Everton: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Unsworth, Pistone, Watson, Linderoth, Watson, Kilbane, Rooney, Ferguson.

Bench: Simonsen, Naysmith, Campbell, Radzinski, McFadden.(Non Used)

Referee: P. Dowd

After all the talking over the last ten days, after conceding seven goals in our last two matches, now was time for a bit of action. It has been getting too close for comfort in the last few weeks, and with Leeds starting to put a few points on the board, Everton seemed to be the side you get every season, that goes into free fall. A catalogue of missed chances, some very inept performances, over the past few games, it had to get better, and it had to be now.

Joey Yobo was predictably recalled, but surprisingly in for an injured Stubbsy, who was ruled out late with a groin injury. Linderoth was favoured instead of Nyarko, and The Duke was put were he should be, and that was partnering a fit again Big Man.

Everton started confidently, and it was you know, who was terrifying the Saints back four. As early as the fourth minute, Rooney after some good control made some shooting space and fired narrowly wide. Southampton were not at the races, no manager, Gay Glenn on his way, all was not well, as chatting to a few Saints fans at the pre match drinkies told us as much. If we were going to win, surely today was the day.

In the eighth minute a goal. England wonder kid Rooney who is now making a habit of scoring on the South coast, did so again, as his speculative shot from the edge of the box, deflected off Svennson to wrong foot Niemi. The noise level rose, as our sell out travelling hordes went berserk. Rooney was rampant, and after linking well with Ferguson another effort was fired in, only for Southampton to clear. The Saints were penned in the last third of the pitch, and Everton were pushing for a second, and sure enough our dominance was confirmed when Ferguson, who had a header saved earlier, buried another effort into the back of the Saint’s onion bag, after great work from The Grav out wide. We were in blue heaven, two up against a side who did not know what day it was, and still we pressed, with Rooney missing a sitter after fantastic work out wide from ‘Sandro Pistone. Still it was not over as Ferguson missed his own sitter as he blasted over after Rooney had created the chance with some fancy footwork. Half time was on us, Sausage was despatched to get the half time goodies in, and I thought about how much ale I was going to sink in the evening’s festivities.

Half Time: Saints 0, Everton 2

At our half time chitchat, we knew the Saints were going to come at us, and they didn’t disappoint. Whatever substance was in their half time brew, it had evidently fired them up. Beattie entered the fray along with Fernandes and early doors it was back to the wall stuff for The Blues. It did not take to long for Phillips to half the deficit, as he blasted a shot from six yards out into Martyn’s net. Martyn who could have done a few cross words in the first half, was certainly not going to have an easy second forty-five.

Everton’s commanding first half performance seemed a distance memory, as The Saints sensed another goal or two was in them. We tried as we could to lift the team, with every song in our repertoire, but the noise level was rising with the home supporters. Totally against the run of play though Stevey Watto and The Duke, walked the ball between them out of the Everton half, and with a lovely display of control, Rooney smashed a shot past the helpless Niemi to give Everton an undeserved two-goal lead. That was that, I looked at Sausage, and we planned our pub-crawl, for the evening, but once again Southampton had other ideas.

Torture is the word we use in connection with supporting the Blues, and no better adjective was relevant on this showing. With eight minutes left on the clock, Linderoth needlessly up ended substitute Prutton in the area, and Beattie duly despatched the spot kick. We survived till the ninety, and the board had gone up by the fourth official, when Fernandes curled a superb shot into Nige’s net. Shit, absolutely fuckin’ shit.

Two points lost again, and news filtered through that a few scores had gone against us. At the start of the match, I would have had accepted a point, but in the manner that it was gained, I feel pig sick. As the title for this match read, ‘Action not words’, and with us now only three points from the drop zone, time is fast running out for the action.

Full Time: Saints 3, Everton 3

Lavington Reports from St. Marys

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Blue Kipper Star Man

Two Goal Salvo

 

 

Unsey Tussles With Scorer Phillips

 

Scored One, Should Have Had More

 

 

 

 

 

Quotes

Moyesy says: "We should have killed it off in the first half with the chances we missed. We were the better side in the first half, no question, and should have scored more. We should have gone in 3-0 or 4-0 up. My players knew Southampton would go very direct in the second half. They wanted to get it up to the front boys and play off them. Then we made it 3-1 with 10 minutes to go and wanted to see the game out."(22/02/04)

Moyesy on The Duke: "Wayne had an exceptional game. He only got back from Portugal at 5:30am on Thursday but didn't want to miss training so trained that afternoon. He's very young and doing well. This will help his confidence as he hasn't scored many goals recently."(22/02/04)

Off The Ball

* Everton eager to get the second half going, were waiting around for a couple of minute's till the Saints decided to join in.(22/02/04)