Everton dent Huddersfield's survival hopes

Cape Town - Huddersfield Town's chances of remaining in the Premier League took a major knock on Saturday after they suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Everton.

In a match that only produced 13 shots at goal, seven of which were on target, between both teams, the periods of excitement are always going to be few and far between.

The match had a very pedestrian start and from Huddersfield's perspective it made a degree of sense. Fightin off relegation, they were not willing to commit to a risky playstyle.

Unfortunately for fans at the ground, Everton were equally unwilling to get drawn in and risk getting hit on the counter, with the game evolving into a staring match with neither side looking likely to blink.

However, that all changed six minutes before half-time when Cenk Tosun was given an inch too much space outside the box and he took his chance with aplomb, drilling his low shot into the bottom left corner to give Everton the lead.

If anyone was hoping this goal will spark this game in to life or encourage Huddersfield to take more risks, they were sorely disappointed. Now Everton had even less incentive to venture high the pitch and Huddersfield were equally guilty of not looking to get back into the game.

After a smattering of half chances throughout the second half, the Toffees eventually secured the win with Leighton Baines deftly controlling a Niasse cross into the path of Gueye, who blasted the ball home to make it 2-0 in the 77th minute.

The win sees Everton up to eighth in the Premier League and leaves Huddersfield just two points above the relegation zone.