Everton 0 v 0 Leeds                                          Sunday, 3rd March 2002
Kick-Off: 3.00pm                                                                    Att: 33,226

Report from Last Season's Game.

Everton : Simonsen, Pistone, Weir, Stubbs, Unsworth, Linderoth, Gemmill, Carsley, Blomqvist, Campbell, Radzinski.

Bench: Gerrard, Clarke, Alexandersson, Ginola, Gravesen.

Subs: Gravesen for Linderoth (79m), Ginola for Blomqvist (79m)

Everton lost the toss, & kicked into the Gwladys St. in the first half. Walter preferred Toby on the right in place of Alexandersson, & brought Pisto in at right back in place of Peter Clarke. We started brightly enough with Jesper & Unsey playing a one, two down the left, with Unsey putting over a great cross, which beat Martin, but Campbell just couldn't reach it. This was the best thing, Unsey did all game. He scaled new heights today. Don't give me all that 'he's a great Evertonian' malarkey. The lad should be on the dole. He misplaced passes, took two free kicks that were awful. He had 2 shots. One missed by 10 yards, & the other went out for a throw in. Radzinski was making some great runs early on, but both Carsley & Gemmill proceeded to pass the ball square. The one time Toby put it through to him, it opened up the Leeds defence, & The Rad won a corner.

Everton were on top and had most of the territorial advantage but couldn't turn this into goals. Super Kev and the Rad were battling well up front, but the final pass by the midfield players was always wayward. Toby and Gemmill combined well to set up Carsley but his shot had no power and Martin saved easily. Radzinski was needlessly pushed in the back by Matteo and the ex Kopite was booked. From the free kick Unsy fired over.

Everton's best chance of the match came when Campbell crossed to Toby but his shot was blocked and went out for a corner. The corner was cleared but The Rad crossed for Stubbsy to head goalward only to see his header cleared off the line. Everton piled on the pressure and had a penalty appeal turned down when Toby's cross appeared to be handled by a Leeds defender. Matteo, the redshite, was sent off for a crude tackle from behind on Super Kev. Campbell again combined well with Radzinski but the ball got stuck under his foot and there was no power in the shot.It was a sitter from ten yards out.

There was then a 10 minute period which consisted of everyone going around kicking everyone else. The referee D'urso seemed to lose the plot and went about giving free kicks willy nilly when they weren't needed and allowed dangerous play to continued unpunished. The half ended with Simmo pulling off a great double save from Leeds first shot of the game.

Half Time 0 - 0

Everton started to put more pressure on the oppositions 10 men, but lacked any idea of how to break down their defense. There was another mad 10 minutes when Leeds lost their cool. Smith was booked for fouling Pisto then Batty was lucky not to be sent off for a Kung foo style kick which hit Scott Gemmill full in the chest. Unbelievably the referee waved play on, much to the annoyance of the Everton players who surrounded him, the outcome being a lecture was given to Pistone. An excited fan behind came out with an 'arl fella's shout of "Fuck off Batty. Who do you think you are Billy Elliot?"

Radzinski should have had a penalty when he was brought down when through on goal, but the referee never gave it because of his theatrical fall. Everton were still on top and Campbell put Toby through on the right but his effort only produced a corner. The Rad was booked for diving when for the second time in a few minutes he was on his arse in the penalty box. Again it looked like a penalty but he's got to learn not to go down like the dying swan. Everton continued to pile on the pressure when Carsley and Campbell combined to put Jasper through but his shot went wide. Toby had a great chance to break the deadlock but for the sixth time in the game an Everton player failed to hit the target. Seconds later he had another chance but this time his shot was well saved by Martin

Ginola and Gravesen came on, 10 minutes from the end, as Walter tried to change it some way. But 10 minutes isn't enough time for any player to make a big difference. Saying that, Daveed nearly won the game in the closing minutes with a wonderfully driven shot which beat Martin all ends up but skimmed the wrong side of the post. In the last minute the Rad was yet again through and brought down inside the box. It was an obvious penalty but right on cue the ref just waved play on.

This is two points lost rather than one point gained, Everton were the better team all the way through and had plenty of chances to win the match. The back four played well and the front two also did well, but it was the midfield where we lost it. Carsley and Gemmill were awful, I feel that it is now time to leave Scott Gemmill out of the side as his play has gradually got worse over the season. The Blue Kipper star man goes to Alan Stubbs who passed the ball well on this bad Goodison pitch and also booted Alan Smith twice up in the air without getting booked.

Full Time 0 - 0

Team News

Everton from : Simonsen, Clarke, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith, Alexandersson, Gemmill, Linderoth, Carsley, Gascoigne, Pembridge, Gravesen, Blomqvist, Pistone, Campbell, Ginola, Radzinski, Gerrard, Unsworth, Moore.

Late Team News

Super Kev is fit to partner The Rad up front. This is a major boost for us, as we need two strikers upfront. Lets hope Kev can rediscover the form he showed earlier in the season. We think he needs the crowd behind him, not having a go. He is still are leading goalscorer.
Walter says: "Kevin will be fit for Sunday’s game. It’s a boost for us because as I have stressed it is important to try and keep all our strikers fit between now and the end of the season.”

Bad news is that Gary Naysmith is out. It looks like a choice of either Unsey or Sandro to replace him. Walter must decide who is going to mark the dangerous Kewell. Will he leave Clarke there or bring in Sandro. Nic Alex is also fit. We think it's about time this fella showed us all what he can do. Let's start today, Alex! (03/03/02)

Everton must check on the walking wounded, before naming a team for Sunday. Nothing new then. Gary Naysmith looks a major doubt.

Walter says: “He has slight damage to a ligament in his ankle. It is a little bit early to tell just how extensive that it is. Hopefully it isn’t too bad and if he does miss the game at Leeds we would look to have him back for the West Ham match or the FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.”

Unsey looks set to take his place. If he continues to pass the ball along the floor, like he did at Crewe he will be fine.

Other worries are Daveed, Super, & Nic, who all took knocks at Crewe. Super & Nic shold be OK, BUT Ginola could make way for Jesper. Stevie Watson, & Big Dunc are still out. Lee Carsley will go straight back into the team. Lets hope he plays alongside Tommy Grav, who changed the game at Crewe. We think we should give Pembo a go on the left, leaving Scott Gemmill to sit this one out. (01/03/02)