bluekipper.com - Match Report - Birmingham

Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley, Gravesen, Kilbane, Radzinski, Rooney, Ferguson.

Bench: Simonsen, Campbell (for Ferguson 46m), Linderoth, McFadden (for Radzinski 60m), Pistone (for Unsworth 46m).

Referee: Mark Halsey

I was really pleased when I saw that it was the same team that finished the game on Saturday was starting this one. Surely it meant that we were going to go for it right from the start.

My pleasure didn't last too long. 8 minutes to be precise. It was a shot from Johnston from outside the box that seemed to go through everyone including Nige and ended up in our sack.

We slowly got back into the game but the final ball was all over the place. We seemed to be happy with throwing the ball up to Duncan and hoping that he could flick it on to Wayne and The Rad. It wasn't working. We had a 10 minute spell were we had 6 or 7 corners but we didn't get much joy from them. Birmingham made sure that Duncan was well marked.

We went 2-0 down with about five minutes to go in the half. It was the strange looking Stan Lazaridis who got it. He picked up the ball well into his own half, he ran unchallenged before smacking a shot past Nige from the corner of the box. What a crock of shit.

Half Time 2 -0

Would we put up another 2nd half performance like Saturday. No. Five minutes in we were 3 down. Hibbo and Stubbsey got themselves in a mess, Forsell pounced on the gift given him and scored from the edge of the box.

Savage went off after the hour to a standing ovation from the Brum fans. Unfuckinbelievable. That's how bad we were tonight. We were pissed on by this joker.

Six minutes from the end Wayne produced Everton's best effort. He took a ball from Lee Carsley and hit a left footer that hit the foot of the post and bounced clear.

This was the worst performance this season. We were proper shite. Birmingham won't get an easier 3 points all season. I'm ranting now. I'm getting on my own nerves. I'm seriously pissed off.

Blue Kipper Star Man was Wayne Rooney, our only bright note on a night to forget. He gave his all and was unlucky not to be on the score sheet.

Full Tme 3-0

Jogger
Reports from
St. Andrews

Blue Kipper Star Man

Subbed At Half Time

Quotes

Moyesy Laments: "When you are not scoring at one end and conceding at the other, you know what the outcome will be If we had Birmingham's defenders we wouldn't have lost those goals. I'm concerned and there was nothing good we can take from that game at all. We can't complain about the outcome of the game because we couldn't keep them out. I'm concerned because the players are certainly capable of better performances. We played the players who were in form and had finished the game well against Manchester United on Saturday and we tried to do it again but it didn't happen. As a club we just did not perform well enough. I'd like us to get a win under our belts quickly so we can get some confidence from it and move on. If we play the way we did then we are not going to get that win. We did get the ball into the box on occasions, but we never got on the end of it." (12/02/04)

Off The Ball

Team News

Alex Nyarko seems to be Moyesy's only serious injury worry, ahead of tonight's trip to St. Andrews. Expect Moyesy though to start with Stevey Watto on the bench, if Nyarko passes his late test, but if not Watto may get another chance in the starting eleven. Keeping the bench warm should be Franny Jeffers after another ineffectual performance by him against the Mancs. Rooney could start in his favoured position up front, partnering The Big Man, whilst The Rad may also have to be prepared to sit the game out in the dug out. Nace should start after coming on as rub a dub at the weekend, and performing admirably, whilst 'Sandro Pistone who he replaced after an awful forty five minutes may be rested.(11/02/04)

Joggers Eleven to start: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley, Gravesen, Kilbane, Nyarko, Rooney, Ferguson.