Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley,Li Tie, Gravesen, McFadden, Rooney, Jeffers.

Bench: Simmonsen, Linderoth(Li Tie, 117), Radzinski(Rooney, 98), Osman( Jeffers, 108), Clarke.

Referee: Mark Halsey.

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How cruel a game football can be. Everton ridiculed by all after Saturday's defeat against Bolton, then labelled passionless by their own boss, and all this before a cup tie in the last sixteen of the Carling Cup. Like the Jekyll and Hide outfit we are, the Blues started like a house on fire. It took only three minutes to do, what it took seventy to do on Saturday, and that was create a chance. The Grav wriggled past a host of defenders to fire in a cross, that Carsley headed narrowly wide.The game went straight up the other end with chances by Mendieta and Maccarone. Mendieta's long range effort was kept out by a flying save by Nige, and minutes later creative play again by the Spaniard created an opening for Maccarone who fired wildly over. Everton came straight back at Boro' as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end, with Rooney and Jeffers both coming close in the first half hour of frantic action. Faddy who had looked as bright as anyone on the park went on an amazing fifty yard plus run down the left flank to centre a pin point cross that really Jeffers should have buried to give the Blues a deserved lead. Alas the chance was wasted. Jeffers tried to make amends just before the half time break when his tame shot was smothered by Schwarzer in the Boro' sticks. Everton passionless on Saturday were looking like a team determined to make it through to the Quarter Finals of a trophy that they have failed to win, even in their illustrious history, and you just felt that it they could carry on playing in this vein it just might be their night.

Half-Time 0-0

Did I speak to soon, as the second half got underway in true Keystone cops style, when a misunderstanding by Unsy and Nige thankfully only resulted in a corner to Boro'. The outcome could have been much worse, as they both went for the same ball in the danger zone. Jeffers for his missed sitter in the first period, kept going and was extremely unlucky with another header that he glanced narrowly wide on the hour mark. Before this match it probably had nil, nil written all over it, but in reality five all would have been closer to the mark as the chances for both sides kept coming and coming. Mendieta started to show his true class, testing Martyn on several occasions. Faddy who was easily our most dangerous player on the evening kept probing away at the Boro' defence looking for an opening, and was unlucky in the last ten minutes when Schwarzer had to be alert to keep out his low drive. Extra time was looming and Moyesy had not played any of his cards, as Rooney, Jeffers and co. could not be faulted tonight on their work rate, or certainly passion. Another thirty minutes of action lay ahead, as after the ninety minutes nothing could separate these two evenly matched sides.

Full-Time 0-0

Extra Time:

Boro' start the stronger of the two sides in extra time, with that man Mendieta, causing the Blues back four no end of trouble. Stubbsy and Unsy were flying in front of everything to get a block on it, frustrating the Teesiders no end. Moyesy played his first card on 98 mins when the Roonster was replaced by the Rad, who within minutes of being on the pitch broke away to lay on Jeffers, who once again fired over. The game tightened up a bit now, with both teams realising what would be lost, if a goal was conceded this late on. Osman came on for Jeffers who had more bites at the cherry than anyone this evening, Moyesy now realising it wasn't going to be his night, but was it going to be Everton's.The dreaded penalties were looming, as news was filtering through that an away tie at Spurs awaited the victors. Penalties it was then, and at this stage you could not point the finger at anyone tonight. A performance full of character, passion and at times creativity, in fairness by both sides was now going to be settled by a lottery. All of Boro's hit the back of the onion bag, as did four of Everton's, with the unlucky player being Leon Osman.Head up son, your day will come, as hopefully with performances like that will Everton's, please keep it up for Sunday.

Lavington Reports from The Riverside

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Blue Kipper Star Man



Jamie Mc

 

Missed Chances

 

 

Missed Pen

Off The Ball

* Rooney with his white polo neck on under his shirt. Must have been a tad cool up in the north east.