Blackburn v Everton - Match Report - Premiership 2004/2005

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert

, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Osman, Carsley

, Cahill, Gravesen, Kilbane, Bent.

Bench: McFadden for Osman (64m), Ferguson for Cahill(64m), Watson for Bent (87m), Wright, Yobo.

Well trust me to land this match report. One of my fears in life is visiting the dentist, but after sitting through this match, the dentist looks like a breeze now. This what not one for the purists. Blackburn who will be scrapping and fighting for every point this season, came at Everton from the off. For all their possession, the quality was poor, as their territorial advantage was not turned into any clear cut chances. Everton were dragged into it, and passes going astray seemed to be the order of the day. Everton's excuse could be a Derby win hangover. After all the euphoria of turning the shite over seven days earlier, a trip to lowly Blackburn on a cold Winter's Day, probably does not hold the same ooomppphh, as turning the crap over.

Tony Hibbert who seems like a man possessed this year, was flinging himself around the penalty area blocking, and tackling anything that got in his way. Apart from a Kevin Kilbane header that flew over the woodwork, I cannot remember any other clear cut chance the Blues had in the first period.

The second period continued in the same vein, as Moyesy tried to inject some urgency, by bring Jimmy and Dunc on. Some wag, sat by me, said the best Scottish duo since the Proclaimers were coming on. Sadly this was one of the highlights of my day, so that really sums the match up. Benty went close in the last quarter of the game, but Friedel saved easily.

The best of the action came in the dying minutes as Blackburn sensed a winner, and went for it. Minutes before they had a goal disallowed, which at first I could not see why. Watching the low lights later that night, I could see he was miles off. For once though the mainly quiet Blackburn fans came to life as their team pressed on. Emerton crashed his shot against the post in injury time, and that really was that.

Maybe I am getting arrogant, but I thought today was three points for the taking. When I look at the bigger picture, undefeated in the Prem since Chelsea, unbeaten in December, with seven points out of a possible nine, that is European form.

My bluekipper starman goes to Tony Hibbert. As Colin Harvey once said, this lad will run through a brick wall for you, and Saturday was testament to that.

Full Time: Blackburn 0, Everton 0

Bent tries to hold off Todd,
who tries to get a bit frisky

Tommy Flies in and misses by miles

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Jogger
Reports from Ewood Park

Blue Kipper Star Man

Starman Tony Hibbert

Mickey Blue Eyes Reports

File this match under “forgettable”
By
Mickey Blue Eyes

If there is one wildly amusing passing minor pastime it is surely watching how the media deal with our turnaround this season. A turnaround let it be said, which is to the eternal credit of David Moyes and his players. The rest of us too got our pre-season forecasts very badly wrong, and we have had to say so if we wish to be considered even reasonably fair. However “fair” doesn’t even get into the lexicon of the sports media. But what is truly hilarious is the sight of said media disappearing up its own anal canal in search of a good reason (a) why it shouldn’t be true, and if it STILL is, (b) how do they explain their “incompetence” and infoclerk policies which continue, occasional honourable exception apart, to concentrate maximum coverage on a couple of clubs?

Well, of course you can forget (b) for a start. If they allowed that they would be admitting what a bunch of untalented apparatchiks they really are. Just thank gawd you don’t have to be with any of them in a trench. You would find them running for the horizon the moment they took some incoming. So most media employees are stuck with (a). Which makes them sound even more like a coterie of overpaid claque-commissars in Czar Murdoch's mercenary army. Therefore, it makes sense to ignore almost everything they say. If you don’t, you are stuck with starting from their point of view, which is a big mistake since it hands over the initiative. My suggestion is this: Pay next to no attention to them unless you wish to see a few video clips. If the team continue to play as they have for most of the season, and – incredibly – we finish in the top four then the guilty media individuals will simply have to eat their own crow. Which will be a very satisfying sight. But always keep in mind we are only half way through the season and injuries and suspensions may yet take their toll. That is as much part of footy as fluctuations in form throughout a season. As if any real Evertonian footy fan didn’t have that engraved in his season ticket.

I was mortified at missing the derby match, especially since we won and then kept second place after Arsenal failed to beat Chelsea. A week of taking the mickey out of pinkies has its limits and soon palls as you turn to things that really matter. Still, it gave some light relief to dodging between crowds of seasonal consumer dupes and hilarious religious superstitious myth. Bwing back Bwian I say. Always look on the bwight side of life. Mind you, you have to say those pinkies are getting AWFUL nervous at the prospect of us beating them to a Chumpions League place…………………

Which is the way it was on The Bus, regulars once again reinforced with some new faces as their part of the claimed 7,500 fans travelling up to Blackburn. It’s a figure that again underlines what the club is capable of once it climbs out of its current era. Once arrived, we ended up at a pub recommended by Jimmy, up the hill, and out of the mainstream. It was a classic northeast Lancashire local nestling comfortably against the end of a stone built terrace at a Tower of Pisa angle. We were first in and occupied the centre of the small but cosy bar and then the pool table, whereon I soundly if predictably thrashed Andrew to the accompaniment of much disgraceful loud mouthed barracking.

Back in the bar we tried to label Tommy (of Crystal Palace fame, a-pint-of-lager-with-a-wee touch-of-lime, yes, that one) as a tight arse. But failed dismally because he immediately got in the following round without flinching. You can’t win ‘em all. And then when the barmaid came around selling scratch cards he asked if the winner got to scratch her not inconsiderable arse in the unlikely event of actually uncovering a successful symbol. It was all very disgraceful, not recommended, and very funny. And got more so as the place filled up with Evertonians. Songs prevailed, optimism everywhere. I can’t recall last time I sensed this kind of widespread anticipation among the fans.

So you could more or less predict what was going to happen. Yes, you are right, an anti-climax, that’s what.

Blackburn simply crowded the midfield with players who followed the Mark Hughes principle of late-career footy – if you can’t match the play, make sure someone gets kicked. It wasn’t outright dirty but it was enough to disrupt our playing pattern and even gave them a slight advantage in possession when we retaliated in kind. Nobody looked like they were going to score for either side, though Blackburn had a late rush that saw them hit a post and quite rightly have a goal disallowed for offside. The proceedings did no more than confirm what we already knew, that we are still short of decisive play up front, and that Blackburn will probably just about stay up. In the circumstances it was a point gouged out of deepest, darkest Lancashire in deepest, darkest December. We can and will play better than this. Then again, this time of year always produces a game or two of this type.

Forget it, people. Roll on the next one.

Compliments of the season to you and yours. Enjoy, enjoy. Most of all have a good laugh.

Quotes After The Game

Moyesy says: “It wasn’t the best point we’ve won this season but we’re not too down because we know it wasn’t our best performance. Blackburn deserve a little bit of credit because they started well and worked hard. We started poorly and never really recovered from it but don’t forget we lost here last year. Blackburn have got a decent record here and they don’t lose too often so give us a bit of credit for actually getting something from the game. They probably deserved something more than us from it. We did some tremendous defending at times and the players were well organised and stuck to the task. I didn’t think Nigel had too much to do, we just couldn’t get a goal to give us victory.”

Stubbsey says: “I think it is just important at the moment not to get beaten. We have to carry on the recent run and pick up points away from home where we can. Obviously we came to Ewood Park and people expected us to get three points. The fans were here in their droves again, which is fantastic, and it is such a shame we couldn’t send them back with three points. We were our own worst enemy and we were brought down to their level and they made it a scrap. We have been forced to scrap in recent weeks and maybe today we didn’t do it as well as them."

Off The Ball

* Like the game nothing to report apart from the 7000 + Blues who made the journey to Ewood. Out sung, out danced , out shouted the Blackburn crew. It felt like 70,000 at times.

Everton Team News

Last Season's game

Everton will be cheered on by over 7,000 Toffeemen. Well done boys!

Everton's only injury worry was Sandro Pistone, but he has been cleared to play tomorrow. Only last season, Sandro used to disappear over the holiday period, with a mystery injury. He would appear in the new year. Now he has an injury and is playing though the pain, as he doesn't want to loose his place. Everton should keep the same team, which started against the redshite.

Baz says: "He has got an extremely minor knee problem. He missed one day's training, but he is able to carry on playing. He's been playing through it for a couple of weeks now, but he has had a scan, he has seen the specialist and everything is okay."

Moyesy says : “I've been in this situation before and know what it is like. I've never found any game in the Premier League easy and certainly not against Blackburn - we lost twice to them last year. Hopefully we can put things right but that is not something I am taking for granted.

Everton from: Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone,Osman, Cahill, Carsley, Gravesen, Kilbane, Bent, Ferguson, Watson, Wright, Yobo, McFadden, Naysmith, Chadwick, Campbell.

Jogger's Everton XI To Start: Martyn, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Pistone, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Gravesen, Kilbane, Bent.

Jogger's Bet: £10 on Everton to win 3-1 (18/1) / £10 on Tommy Grav First Goalscorer (12/1) (12/11/04)

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About The Opposition

Struggling Rovers will be without one time Everton target and redshite, David Thompson who is suspended. Former Everton player Craig Short should partner Andy Todd in the centre of the defence.

Ex-Everton player, Mark Hughes says: "It is a big fixture and one we are looking forward to. The lads are showing a lot more resolve and are refusing to go under. You've just got to stick to your beliefs and I think there are real signs of progress being made. We're working very hard both on and off the pitch to move this club forward.
Everton have done ever so well and I think their success so far this season has been great for the Premiership. I think they've possibly surprised themselves as much as everyone else, but hopefully that will end tomorrow. They've got a good team spirit and a good work ethic and as a result they've reaped the rewards. If you stay clear of injuries and suspensions it has shown it helps continuity, team selection and team performances. Everton have been very fortunate that they've been able to select virtually the same starting 11 every week. I think their test will come when they become affected by injuries and suspensions.”

Moyesy says: “I am surprised to see Blackburn struggling but I think Mark Hughes will make a go of it there and succeed."

Ex- Blackburn player, Marcus Bent says: “We know that because Blackburn are down at the bottom of the table they will be working hard to try and get the three points. There’s not that many points separating the bottom teams so they’ll be desperate to win.From playing at Blackburn I know how difficult they make it for visiting teams to win matches and I know they won’t make it easy for us. But we’ve been to tough away grounds this season and won matches and I am confident that we’ll do the same at Ewood Park on Saturday. I enjoyed my time at Ewood Park. We got promoted in my first season there and there were a lot of good players there at the time. I still have a few friends in the club and in the area because I’m not living too far away from Blackburn now. It’ll be nice to go back there, especially if I win and Everton get three points. Sparky was there when I was there. He was a brilliant person and an excellent professional. I don’t know whether I should call him ‘Sparky’ or ‘Gaffer’ when I see him - he might demand a little bit of respect now he’s a boss!. I hope it all goes well for him, because he’s a nice guy. He used to say to me: ‘Run Fast, Score Goals’ all the time when we used to play together.Hopefully, he’ll come to eat those words on Saturday!” (17/12/04)

Fixtures

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