Everton v Sunderland - Match Report - FA Cup 4th round 2004/2005

Everton: Wright, Pistone, Yobo, Stubbs (Weir 66), Naysmith

, McFadden

, Carsley, Osman, Kilbane (Bent 77), Cahill, Beattie(Chadwick 77)

As I write this, I'm totally twatted! Sportsman's dinner last night, in at 4 bells, at Goodison for high noon and back on the lash - it's fuckin great bein a Toffeeman! They never let you down.

Today I promised 3 people I would include them in the report but hey, I'm bollixeed and apologise! One was an Aussie team similar to the shite, think it was The Greenwood's or something like that - the shite are now the Greenwood's, I think the second was Lard taking the piss at HT when I said Ossy was winning the ball and going 'wiiwoo' past his opponent, the third was from my cousin's cousin (no dueling banjo jokes please) but as this was post match, I haven't got a fuckin clue what it was.

Anyway, onto the game, or before to be precise. I had the dubious honour of kissing Kipper's arse as I never thought we would ever see Brian Labone in the Blue Kipper Lounge yet here he was in all his glory saying when he lifted the FA Cup we beat Sunderland 3-0 on the way, could it be an omen?

Moyesy shuffled the pack resting Hibbo, Weir, Benty & Big Dunc and the ground was packed despite the rumours that it would be half empty, the Souness lovers had brought 6,000 and the atmosphere was electric. Now this coulda been one of those Tranmere-type games and I think all the Black Cats supporters thought so too, but it is a long time since we came out of the blocks like this! This season we have been used to winning by the odd goal, today was different.

Moyesy must have fed the lads raw meat all week because from the off there was only one winner of this game. With the crowd back up for it too (what happened against Charlton lads? Get an extra Stella down yer throat next time) and we roared the boys on to victory.
Tommy Myhre was back and got a great reception from the Street End, too good because he saved well from Beattie early on but shortly after he was beaten.

With less than 10 mins on the clock, Killa (He used to be shite, but now he's alright, walkin' in a Killa wonderland) whipped one in from the left and Jimmy Mac shinned it in, who cares? Fuck Off, 1-0, 10 Mins, Millennium here we come!

Now the best was yet to come, but I need to paint the picture. In the BK Lounge the Sunderland supporters were scratchin their heads as to how they paid £3m for 'Wing-nut' Wright, the ex-redshite who today would be up against Killa. But it was Beattie who skinned him for the second goal, Beatts left him for dead on the corner of the box before lashing on in which took a deflection but he didn't give a shit & celebrated his first of many. Two up & only 30 mins gone! Tell me Ma, me Ma, to put the champagne on ice....

Half Time: EVERTON 2 Sunderland 0

Half Time and the Chang had gone down well, redshite Wright had been subbed because he was redshite and the boys were back. It wasn't that easy at first, McCarthy must have issued a HT bollocking because they came at us and had the better at first but Joey looked good at the back and even after Stubbsy went off for Davey Weir we still looked strong. They had a couple of efforts which went close but even with Teflon Ricky we still looked comfortable. What the fuck is going on with Richard Wright? He has got his chance but he is blowing it, he looks nervous and rarely does he collect the ball cleanly, Dickie, we want you to do well son, you are the future, buck up!

Whilst they had a couple of half chances then so did we, Ozzy who was having a blinder, could have capped it by scoring but he pulled his effort well wide, it was his first mistake. Subs were coming & going, I stood to applaud Jimmy Mac off and looked around, Lard & Jogger were pissing themselves, it was Killa!

Anyway, we made it safe with a far post header from Timmy, Jimmy Mac crossed and there was Timmy stealing in on the far post to put us 3 up. What a buy he has been, in Moyes we trust!

So there you have it, cruised really, they looked second rate and we could have had six. Loads of good performances, strong at the back, Pisto & Nace did well, Joey was like a rash on their front men, Killa got booed all game but did well, Beatts broke his duck & Jimmy Mac was a star but the Blue Kipper Star Man goes to Ozzy who went past people for fun today, worked his bollocks off and was unlucky not to score. Get by those radio's on Monday lunch boys, it could be Burnley away! He just can't, he just can't, he just can't control those feet! COYFBB!

Full Time: Everton 3 Sunderland 0

Beatts and Tiny Find The Net

Swiss Tony Reports from
Goodison Park

Blue Kipper Star Man

Leon, Leon

First For Club

Opener

Who Else

Mickey Blue Eyes Reports

Quotes After The Game

Alan Irvine says: "We’ve got a very small squad as everyone knows so we’ve got to try and use that squad as well as we can. The players who come in are just as good as the other players so we know that whilst it’s a very small squad it’s a good squad. We saw it as an opportunity to give one or two players another game but we certainly didn’t look on it as putting out a weakened team because it wasn’t that.

We’ll take a home draw in the next round and hopefully it will be kind to us as well. But more importantly is winning and that breeds confidence in the players. We’re keen to win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season, whether they’re cup games or league games. If we can continue to do that then the season, which has already been terrific, will continue to be that.

I only became reasonably comfortable when it got to 3-0. I think before that I always felt that Sunderland held a threat, albeit that we defended well for the largest part of the game. At 2-0 they had a great chance to make it 2-1 when Stephen Elliot got through and had that gone in it could have been a tense finish to the game.

Sunderland came here hoping that they might be able to pull off a shock so it was very important that we started the game well. Obviously getting the goal as early as we did was just what we needed.

We’re all hoping and assuming that it’s James goal. He did well to create space for the shot, it was a fabulous turn and it was going on target. Would the keeper have saved it? Possibly, but it was deflected past him. For me it’s James’ goal and I hope that if the panel do sit on it then they decide it is.(30/01/05)

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy says: "We got a good hiding from a very good outfit. No complaints - we got a real good doing out there." (31/01/05)

Off The Ball

Everton Team News

With the exception of Nige, Watto and Li Tie, Everton go into the crunch Cup match with Sunderland at near full strength. Rumours are circulating that Nige may make the squad, but Moyesy will stick with Dickie, and leave Nige for later battles in the League. I expect however Moyesy to make the odd change. Killa may get a blow along with Benty, with a view to the vital Prem match against Norwich days away. After getting the second half in last week, don't be surprised if the Big Man gets another run out, from the start this time though. Faddy may be brought in for Killa, but expect the back four to have the usual look to it.

Alan Irvine says: "This is an important competition for us and our fans. It was the springboard to a lot of success in the 80s, and it would be lovely if it was once again a springboard for a lot success again. The 1984 FA Cup win against Watford was the catalyst for much of the success that followed on." (28/01/05)

Everton (from): Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Weir, Pistone, Naysmith, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Kilbane, McFadden, Beattie, Bent, Chadwick, Turner, Martyn.

Sausage's Everton XI To Start: Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Pistone, Carsley, Cahill, Mc Fadden, Osman, Beattie, Ferguson

Sausage's Bet: £10 Tim Cahill First Goal (7/1) / £10 Everton Half Time / Full Time (6/4)

About The Opposition

High flying Championship side Sunderland have few injury worries, with the exception of midfield man Carl Robinson who was sent home from training suffering from illness. Ex shit 'ed Stephen Wright has shaken off a knee injury and Michael Bridges should be available after an ankle injury.

Crystal Palace were dumped out of the competition in the last round by the Black Cats, and with their traveling band of around 8,000 fans, it should be a great atmosphere in the ground tomorrow.

Roy Keane's Mate, Mick McCarthy says: "The game is at their place and they will fancy their chances of winning. We’ve beaten one team from the Premiership, Crystal Palace, this season and though this is a different proposition we’ve got nothing to worry about. The pressure of getting three points every week for us is off. Last week (against Sheffield United) was tense. You could feel it.

We’ll be trying to win the game. I doubt whether either side wants a replay. I think it’ll be a tight game and it won’t be one-sided. Everton have some very good players and play very well as a team. It should be a real good cup-tie." (28/01/05)

Fixtures

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