Everton: Simonsen, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Naysmith, Li Tie, Gravesen, Unsworth, Radzinski, Campbell, Rooney.

Subs : Gerrard, Linderoth, Carsley, Rodrigo (Naysmith 86), Alexandersson

Moysey surprised us again with this team selection. He opted for an attacking 4 3 3 formation bringing back The Duke in place of Saint Nic. He also brought back Unsey for his 1st start of the season in place of the ill Pembo, who had hooked up after eating a dodgy kebab at the Blue Kipper BBQ. Simmo was in goal as Wrighty had not recovered from his bruised arm.
Simmo was in action early on with a smart tip over from a long distance Brum shot. The game started at a fast pace and never let up all night. Birmingham were willing to scrap for any ball along with the Toffees. This led to a midfield battle with not much goal action.
The Ref, who had obviously not played the game before, was an absolute arse. He was pulling players up (from both sides) for silly things and letting some blatant fouls go. After 20 minutes of a poor 1st half Everton sprang to life, when Campbell held the ball up brilliantly and then played Rooney in down the right, he exchanged passes with Hibbert, then shot just wide.
The crowd were giving Lily Savage the usual stick and were roaring with laughter when the Duke nutmeged him. From this the ball broke to Hibbert, who was having a stormer and his cross found the Rad who teed up Super Kev, his shop beat Vaesen all ends up but bounced off a post. During this period Li Tie was getting stuck in and playing some nice balls into the forwards.
Unfortunately the half petered out and ended 0 - 0.

Everton started the second half well with Campbell again putting the Rad in, but his shot was well saved. Immediately Birmingham scored. There was no danger when Li Tie passed to Gravesen, but Tommy had his daft head on and decided to pass back who to we'll never know, but the ball broke to Stern John no laughing. That's his name. Stern proceeded to head for goal with Stubbsey trying to keep up with him. He did by pulling him back. The ref said pen. Stubbsey had to go as he was the last man, but that shit Savage ran like a man possessed to the ref with the "send his off sign" flashing a non existent card at the ref. Davy Weir went ballistic and barged him out of the way, Davy was still snarling and pointing the finger at him when Birmingham scored the resulting pen.
1 - 0 down with ten men a lot of fans and players would have threw their hands in. With Smiths team that would have happened, but not Moyses He kept the same formation, with the three forwards up front and just played with a back three. The fans got behind the team and the team responded. Wave after wave of Everton attacks were foiled by a tough Birmingham defense. Simmo was a virtual spectator as we battered them. The Hibbert was charging down the right like another winger. Rooney, Campbell and Radzinski all had goal bound shots blocked by head, elbows and arses. Unsey was booked for a reckless tackle, it was rip-roaring stuff, with the crowd playing their part, especially when a Birmingham player was booked for nothing other than a trip, but the crowd was baying for blood and the ref bought it.
Li Tie was up with the pace of the game now and put a lovely weighted reverse pass to the Rad, but he, like the fans was expecting Tie to pass to the marauding Hibbert. Li Tie has improved in such a small space of time. While Tie was having a stormer, his midfield partner Gravesen was having a stinker. His passing was awful, his shooting astray and his free kicks were pathetic back passes to their keeper. Still Everton were attacking looking for the equaliser. The big crowd were staying till the end, we had that "we'll do this" feeling, something we haven't had for a while. The spirit in the side was summed up by the "Hibbert hattrick" he storms into a 50/50 tackle and won in hands down, then another, then a third. It was pure Sunday football, but fantastic. Everton piled forward, Simmo was falling asleep by this time. Rooney had a penalty appeal turned down, Davy Weir threw a Birmingham player off the pitch and got away with it, the ref was that bad. The Duke was running at their defense at will, it was fantastic stuff. The equaliser came in the last minute, when after another attack, the ball came to Unsey just inside the penalty box and he hit it with his right foot. It pinballed off the post, via a couple of Birmingham players and nestled in the net. Cue hysteria, don't you just love that feeling? The fans were going mad, we had just drew with Birmingham at home and we were delirious, Moysey you have got up going. The Blue Kipper star man was hard to pick, with Campbell and Hibbert close to getting the nomination. But I picked Li Tie, who finished his first full game, while playing delightful passes about the pitch and getting stuck in. Roll on Saturday.

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Quotes

Moyesy says: “I think you only need to see the reaction around Goodison tonight to see what it means to both the fans and the players. We were all delighted because it was what we deserved and I think the supporters feel that it was what we deserved as well. I’ve told the players that they’re beginning to set standards and we’ll soon notice if they begin to drop below those. Tonight, it was another high standard performance. The fans stayed right to the final whistle, they were right behind us, it was a great atmosphere – I was just disappointed that we didn’t take all three points. We should have won tonight.”

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Team News

Moysey says: “I’ve had a few tussles with Birmingham in the past and I’m sure this’ll be no different. Birmingham’s a tough game. I know what it’ll mean to them to try and get a result. They’ll be looking to get up and running. If you look at their games it was two tough games that they’ve had. But that’s the Premiership, games are very hard. We want to pick up as many points as we can, get them in the bag and see if we can build and improve. If we get three points against Birmingham it’d make it a decent start to the season."

Richard Wright is a major doubt for the game. He will have a late fitness test on Wednesday. Simo is on standby.

Moysey said: “Richard Wright is touch and go. He got challenged in the opening minutes of Saturday's game from Gavin McCann.He went for an X-ray yesterday, which showed his arm is currently very badly bruised and swollen. It will be a late shout to se how he is on Wednesday though we are hoping the bruising and swelling will subside."

Joey Yobo is now available and is I expect hime to go straight in for his debut. I think Stubbsey will miss out. I think that Moysey will revert to the 4-3-3 system that he ended Saturdays game with.

Kipper's eleven to start: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Naysmith, Li Tie, Gravesen, Pembridge, Radzinski, Campbell, Rooney.

Kipper Reports from Goodison Park

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Blue Kipper Star Man

Li Tie