Match Report by Sunlink

It has been a long day (04:30 start this morning), which should have ended better. Had it not been for the diabolical display of refereeing from Mr S Dunn, Everton would have come out worthy winners of tonight’s encounter at the valley.
Not only did he contrive to award two “dubious” penalties and award the vast majority of decisions in favour of the home side but he also managed to book Wayne Rooney for dissent after “Scott Parker had tripped himself up conveniently just outside of the Everton box. It was truly a master class in “Homer” refereeing. I dream of the day that they can clone the likes of Colina, so we can all play on a level playing field.
Anyway, enough of their twelfth man, I will now concentrate on Everton’s contribution. As usual some big pluses on the night but just as many negatives. Another great turnout from the Everton travelling faithful, who sang with gusto and put the home crowd to shame throughout the full 90 minutes. They are definitely worth a goal a game at away fixtures.
The Everton team in general made hard work of a Charlton side that apart from Jensen, Parker and Euell were decidedly ordinary. It would be safe to say that if we had the services of the two aforementioned midfielders then we would have taken the three points without question. Apart from Watson and Linderoth, our midfield contribution was very lacklustre and more importantly we were bullied out of the game by a side you would expect Everton to boss.
Too many times we gave the ball straight back to the home side, which more often than not resulted in goal mouth pressure at the Everton end. Charlton were only too happy to accept the impetus given to them by the blues shoddy passing as their only other attacking outlet was a long punt forward for the two front runners to hold up. It wasn’t surprising then, that the opening goal for Charlton came from an Everton mistake. Yobo, instead of controlling and distributing a long punt, contrived to find touch with a hurried clearance. From the resulting throw-in, the ball pinged around the edge of the Everton box. Naysmith should have won the ball ahead of the Charlton player but once he was by-passed, the resulting one/two was always going to lead to trouble. And trouble is what we got, in the form of a penalty which to me was a little too theatrical. Mr Dunn had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick and Euell duly obliged.
Everton’s response was swift and owed itself more to guile and deft finishing than deceit and luck. Pembos inch perfect ball around the back of the Charlton defence found Steve Watson with only the keeper to beat. He beat the oncoming keeper with the cutest of touches to lob into the empty net. The away crowd went berserk but strangely started to shout the name of Wayne Rooney and not Watson. Hey, it isn’t only Wayne that can conj our up magic.
The rest of the first half saw the Toffees doing their best to make the opposition look better than their kick and run tactics suggested by presenting them with the ball at every opportunity.
Half time 1-1
The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with the Toffees creating the best of the openings, whilst managing too lose the plot in the middle of the park on the majority of occasions. Naysmith should have put us in front, when he was presented with an open goal. He fired wide, when it appeared easier to score.
The Rad and Wayne worked tirelessly in their pursuit of an opening but it was the home side that once again took the lead from another penalty. The Charlton player sprinted into the box seemingly going nowhere but the by-line, when Joey inexplicably decided to lunge in with a schoolboy tackle. Again the Charlton player made the most of the challenge, seemingly falling to the ground before Yobo made contact. Euell again dispatched the spot-kick and again we found ourselves chasing a game we should have controlled with comfort.
Cue the boy wonder, with a piece of sublime skill to set up a thumping drive high into the roof of the net. Again the travelling hordes went barmy. It was again time for the Toffees to turn the screw and push for the all important and deserved winner. The Rad was guilty on a number of occasions of firing wide when he should have at least tested the keeper.
When the final whistle was blown, the Charlton fans and players were the more relieved.
Overall, a creditable performance by the team although we are still carrying far two many passengers and persistently give the ball away when under no particular pressure. We desperately need strengthening in the midfield area if we are to sustain the momentum of the last campaign.
Full Time 2-2

MOTM is a difficult one. I thought Linderoth, Watson and Pistone were very solid over the 90 minutes and Wayne’s tireless running and exceptional goal must put him in contention. In the end I gave it to Linderoth, who appears to be growing in stature with each game

Wright – Didn’t have much to do apart from pick the ball out of the net after the two penalties. I still feel he needs to command his box more and ease the pressure from corner kicks by catching more crosses. Steady on the night didn’t do anything wrong 7
Unsy – Poor distribution going forward but steady in defence 6
Pistone – Classy, committed and resolute. 8
Yobo – A little shaky at times and should not have dived in for the second penalty 6
Stubbsy – Didn’t really put a foot wrong 7
Linderoth – Excellent 8.5
Naysmith – Average game from a decent squad player
Pembo – Woeful distribution all game but redeemed himself with a wonderful pass to set up Steve Watson for the first goal 6
Waggy – Mr reliable and super goal 8
Radz – Busy all game but shooting boots left at home. Needs to work the keeper more 7
The Dog – Look at threat everytime he received the ball. Charlton defenders did not know how to handle him and were completely outwitted for the goal

Quotes

Moyesy said:"I thought we played well all night and we created chances in both halves, but we lost the two penalty kicks and kept coming back and if any side deserved to win on the night, it was us.
Wayne was a threat as was Radzinski. They worried Charlton no end every time they got the ball with their ability to go past people."

Off The Ball

Team News            Last Season's Game

Steve Watson is a major doubt for the Toffees. If he doesn't make it, Moyesy may go for a straight choice between Saint Nic & Ossie. Moyesy still has to decide weather to continue with Wayne Rooney up front.
Moyesy says: “ We have Nick Chadwick and Leon Osman who can play up front and apart from that we don’t have anyone else available. Wayne had a very good impact on the game against Fulham and I thought after 50-55 minutes he began to tire. There is no question that he has got a bit of match practice and a bit of match fitness to go, but he came in Sunday morning and trained – he didn’t want to do a warm-down. He trained again today and the boy is very conscientious about getting himself in good shape as quickly as possible and in a couple of weeks he should be back to his best.”

Everton from: Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Weir, Unsworth, Radzinski, Pembridge, Watson, Li Tie, Naysmith, Rooney, Osman, Chadwick, Linderoth, Alexandersson, Clarke, Simonsen.

Kipper's eleven to start: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Pistone, Alexandersson, Linderoth, Pembridge, Naysmith, Rooney, Radzinski.