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

Bench: Simonsen, Campbell (Jeffers 64m), McFadden (Rooney 46m), Kilbane (Hibbert46m), Linderoth.

Well David Moyes surprised most of us with his team selection deciding to play 3 small chappies up front, with Wayne playing slightly deeper than the The Rad and Franny.

There is defo something wrong with watching a game of footy at Goodison on a Sunday afternoon. It just doesn't seem right.The atmosphere isn't what it should be. If yer went you know what I mean.

The first 15 minutes was a very scrappy affair with no real chances for both sides. On 16 minutes Nace put a free kick in from the right hand side that evaded everyone and just went wide and a couple of minutes later The Rad sent a header wide of the far right post. We were having a decent spells of possession but without creating any real chances.

Franny was clear on the right after a brilliant ball from the Tommy Grav, but he decided to shoot from an impossible angle instead of pulling it back for the unmarked Wayne. The Rad was causing the city defense the most problems with his pace and a great run down the left ended with a superb ball into the box for the onrushing Nace, whose first touch let him down and his chance was gone.

City hadn't caused the Everton defense too much trouble at the back until the last minute of the half when Unsy had bravely headed off the line after a bit of a scramble.

Half Time 0-0

The 2nd half saw the introduction of Macca and Killa for Tony and Wayne. It was Nace who went right back and Killa who went left back with James at left mid and Harry Hill on the right.

Lee Carsley had a great chance to put the Toffeemen a goal to the good just 2 minutes into the 2nd half. The ball broke to him on the 6 yard box after a Gravedigger free kick wasn't cleared and with the goal at his mercy he blasted over. Everton were putting the pressure on and after another free kick Killa had a shot scrambled off the line by an ex blue, the Honey Monster.

After the hour Kevin Campbell came on for the disappointing Jeffers. There is no way that playing 2 small strikers in the Premiership is going to work. Campbell's better days seem to be behind him now, but a bigger man's presence is a must if we are to create chances to score.

Super clattered into their goalie at the first opportunity and his 2nd contribution almost led to a goal for The Rad. A cross from the right was nodded into the path of Rad but the goalkeeper was the braver of the two and collected comfortably. In my football days I was told when I was playing that if you ever had the chance to kill the goalie you should do it. But I don't think the Rad ever played in the Bootle Joc.

The last 10 minutes saw the game really open up, both sides thinking they could collect all three points. And it was Everton who certainly had the best opportunity to do the collecting. A break down the right hand side saw Kevin Campbell release the Rad down the touchline, he cut inside and squared the ball to Tommy Grav, who had run the length of the pitch to get into the box. His left foot shot beat the goalkeeper but agonizingly hit the post and bounced away to safety. I wanted to cry. So I did.

The Blue Kipper Star Man was Alan Stubbs who was magnificent throughout the 90 minutes.

Jogger Reports from Goodison Park

---

Blue Kipper Star Man

Alan Stubbs

 

 

Hit Post

 

Subbed Again

Quotes

David Moyes: "From our point of view it wasn't good - but we didn't lose and we'll have to try and build on it. We kept a clean sheet and we’ve had a few of them this season. But recently the problem’s been scoring the goals. We tried today to play Wayne behind Francis and Tomasz to see if we’d get more goalscoring opportunities but that didn’t quite work as well. All credit to the lads for digging deep and making sure we got something from the game.”

Off The Ball

* Did anyone see Right Said Fred (Carsley and Gravesen) take a throw in at the same time.