The king is dead, long live the king. Life without Tommy started today, and we had to get used to it quick. Moyesy surprised everyone with his team selection, dropping Benty into midfield, dropping Ossie, or was he injured, and playing Beatts on his own up front. Joey took over from Tommy in the middle, and Tony Hibbert was brought back in for Nace.

Everton started off with a point to prove, as the critics who had written them off all season, were rubbing their hands for their point to be proved with Tommy's departure. Boro along with the shite are our main rivals to the fourth Champions League spot, but in all honesty who are they. Without Steve Gibson's cash, they are a Championship side at best. A club who fail to fill their ground week in week out, and have won one major honour in over a hundred years of asking. As you can guess I fuckin' hate Boro.

Their was only one team on the pitch in the first half, and that was the side which has won nine League Titles. Early doors, Harry Hill crashed his shot against the bar, after some fantastic work from Zinedine out wide on the left. Everton meant business, and Boro were not at the races. Benty who was having a field day out on the right hand side, took the piss out of the Boro back four, and was unlucky to see his low cross to Tiny palmed away by Schwarzer in the Boro sticks. It was all one way traffic with Beatts also calling the Aussie keeper into action.

Totally against the run of play Zenden gave Boro the lead on the twenty sixth minute mark. A cross field pass should have easily been intercepted by the normally reliable Tony Hibbert. He let the ball slide pass him and into the path of Zenden, whose job was made easier by the on rushing Wright, and he chipped the keeper to give Boro a lead, an undeserved one at that. Dickie in the Everton sticks, does not breed any confidence in his back four, and this can be seen during the game. I remember years ago, Alex Ferguson dropping Jim Leighton, after he had a nightmare of a drawn FA Cup Final, for the replay. Tough management, but it was done for the good of their club. Maybe Moyesy if he wants that fourth Champions League spot, will have to go fishing for a keeper in this transfer window. Dickie is not up to the job.

Everton flew straight back at Boro, and the hard working Bent was unlucky to see his volleyed drive saved well again by Schwarzer. Half time came, and we all scratched our heads, wondering why we were behind. Everton had dominated the first half, and genuinely were unlucky to be on the wrong end of the half time scoreline.

Half Time: Boro 1 Everton 0

Everton started the second half like the first. With Moyesy making no changes, Everton were straight back in Boro's faces. Stubbsey watched his tame header gathered easily by Schwarzer after a well worked free kick by Harry Hill. Beatts who in fairness is not up to speed on his fitness yet, watched as his half hit shot bounced back off the post, after the normally reliable Schwarzer fumbled a cross.

Everton were running out of time, and Moyesy decided to bring on the Big Man, who after his antics of the other week owed us big time. When asked he delivered. After a long centre from Tony Hibbert, Ferguson nodded an inch perfect ball back into Tiny's path who coolly slotted home from two yards out. It was no more than Everton deserved.

Everton sensed all three points, and could have had it after Schwarzer fumbled again. Dunc pounced, and all hell let loose, with Zenden causing mayhem in the penalty area. No doubt he was playing on Dunc's short fuse, and luckily for the Dutch prick, ten odd players got between him and the Scots lunatic, as you could see he was in the mood to rip his ears off. The referee who deserves a pat on the back, could see it was all a storm in a tea cup. After a few words with Stubbsey and Southgate, he let it all go. If only all men in black were like that. Well played Jimmy Sommerville.

Everton left with a point, which at the start they probably would have settled for. After the game panned out, they must have thought they deserved all three. I certainly did. My bluekipper Starman goes to Marcus Bent, who even though was pushed out wide in the first half, still showed how much of an asset he is to the Blues this season, with his skill and powerful running. Charlton up next, and by the way, tell Rafa the gap is now seven points.

Full Time: Boro 1 Everton 1

Beatts Gets The Better Of Boro

Moyesy Shows The Way

Match Report Report From The Riverside

Blue Kipper Star Man

Starman

 

 

Goal

 

Superb

 

Knock Down