1987 I was told prior to kick, was the last time we beat Villa on their home territory. I remember the days when we were at Villa Park several times a season, winning countless Semi's, and in them days, it was one of our lucky grounds. The Premiership though has not been kind to us in that part of the Midlands, and if I am being totally honest, I did not think it would be again today. Thank Christ, I am the worst tipster in the world. The Everton team looked familiar again, with Pisto in for Nace, but Stubbsy picked up an injury in training, so Davey came in to partner Joey in the heart of the defence.

Everton from the off were electric. The last two weeks against arguably the best two teams in the country, Everton have been unlucky, then played off the park. I was getting the feeling, legs were getting tired, squad numbers were being depleted with injuries and suspensions. Oh ye of little faith, as Everton produced their best away, if not their best performance of the season.

Everton were bossing the game from the off, Tiny made a penetrating run before releasing Benty, whose shot was blocked by an alert Villa skipper Olof Mellberg at the expense of a corner. Shortly afterwards Zinedine wriggled free of the Villa midfield, and sprayed a lovely ball to the returning Tiny, who in his step fed Ossie with a peach of a cross. The youngster nodded in at the far post to give the Blues a thoroughly deserved lead. I know we all go over the top at times, but that football was reminiscent of some of the great stuff the midfield of Sheeds, Brace and Tricky served up in the glorious 80's. Everton were on fire and came straight back at Villa sensing more. Benty was unlucky to see a volleyed effort scream into the Holte End. Rampant wasn't the word, Everton would be a match for anyone on this form. The midfield were running rings around Villa. Mr Pot......, sorry Mikkel was different class, but the returning Tiny was stealing the show, with his box to box running.

The Blues went in at the break for probably the easiest half time talk of the season. Cup of Bovril, and keep it going from Moyesy would be the order of the day, as Villa left the pitch to a chorus of boo's, and the Blues to a standing ovation from the travelling hordes.

HALF TIME: Villa 0, EVERTON 1.

Whatever Moyesy said at half time, had the reverse effect, as straight from the kick off, Villa caught Everton napping to steal the equaliser. Solana directed a Hiltzelberger shot into the Blues net, as the back four looked at each other for fuckin' up so early. In fairness it was Everton's only mess up of the day, but not the greatest time to have it. Joey should have cleared the imminent danger, and was caught out, would it be our undoing. No chance as within two minute, normal service was resumed when my man of the Season Tiny Tim, does what he does best. Timing his run into their area to perfection, he powered home a delightful Benty cross, right in front of the travelling Blues. The mass piley on ensued, as Tiny seemed to enjoy that one.

That was it. Everton's slight blip right at the start of the half, seem to focus us on the job in hand. Ossie could have had a bag full, as Sorensen in the sticks seemed to be the only one having a go in a Villa shirt. A volley from close range should have found the net, but Ossie was to grab a second, with arguably the move of the match, no fuck it, the move of the season. Tiny picked up the ball after some tremendous hold up play from Benty. He weaved his way through at least three Villa defenders. The Aussie then played neat pass to the unmarked Ossie, who coolly chipped the ball over the sprawling Sorensen. The goal was sublime, and totally summed up Everton yesterday.

It was know turning into a practice match, as Everton were spraying the ball around for fun. Nige in the sticks, could have brought a few mags with him to keep him entertained, as apart from one or two half efforts, he could have had a day at home with the family.

The midfield today was the difference. Arteta is finding his feet, and looked a class apart. Ossie got two, but should have had five, if it was not for some good goalkeeping. Killa, and Harry kept things ticking over, feeding the team with some delightful balls. Benty was a colossus up front, his hold up play at times is not given the recognition by some it definitely deserves. You can see were I am going now with my bluekipper Starman man on this impressive afternoon. Tiny Tim, without doubt ran the show. His energy and enthusiasm for the game is a joy to watch. His box to box running, reading off the game, would make him walk into any team in the country, but thankfully he is all ours. Man ure bought Rooney for £28m, the shite bought countless Spaniards for God knows how much, Chelski bought half of Europe for billions, but without doubt the £2m or so Moyesy spent in acquiring Tiny from Millwall, was the best pound for pound money spent last Summer.

I need a good kick up the arse, as I believed Everton may not have what it takes in the run in to keep the fourth spot from whoever puts a run together to nick it from us. Like a good Doubting Thomas, I have started believing again. Already I have been rummaging around for my passport for next years trips away. Moyesy after a few hard weeks of defeats has the team focused again, and you can see the spirit oozing out of everyone, determined to keep that fourth spot for themselves. Credit were credit is due, boys you were all fantastic. Roll on Blackburn.

FULL TIME: Villa 1, EVERTON 3.

Zinedine Fends Off Djemba Djemba

Joey Outjumps Angell, as He Jumps Like Brett

Match Report from Villa Park

Blue Kipper Star Man

Tiny Tim

 

 

Two For Ossie

 

 

Superb

 

 

Classy

 

 

Tidy

 

 

Day Off

 

 

Normal service resumed as soon as possible
By
Mickey Blue Eyes.

Villa, away. Not my favourite ground. Or my favourite opposing fans – too many peculiar people with peculiar mentalities: a minority to be sure, but a sizeable one at that. Likely to get worse too with the awful announcement of probably 2,000 redundancies at the nearby Rover factory. It’s only a matter of time before thet iniquitous event feeds its frustration through to local footy. Not that we haven’t got a few hate-filled loonies amongst our own version of that branch of the species……………………the absurd over-reaction to last week’s reverse demonstrated as much.

In the pub before the match a large assembly of Blues fans were much nearer to the real article. Familiar, long-term faces everywhere. Optimism abounded though few could really tell you why. Me, I didn’t have the faintest idea which way the match would go, not even with the notion that we were long due a win at Villa Park. And just to confound generalities the local bar staff were friendly and efficient to the point where you had to do a double check you were actually en Angleterre. Footy songs broke out occasionally but none of them were in the loathsome category. It was convivial, civilised and buzzing loudly with anticipation in spite of recent adverse results and a conscienceless media who once again earned our justified contempt.

Inside, The Bus assembled in force just to the right of the goal, four rows back. Texyla said Evertonians had secured another 800 seats off to our left at the front of the Doug Ellis Stand. From the noise and colours you could readily believe him. It was one of those games almost from the start. Villa were scarcely in it, every bit as second best as were in last week’s Cup match. Likely some of the media will now switch its focus to a “crisis at Villa Park” as erratic David O’Leary picks up the pieces. As if we care.

It was a relief to see the line up even with Stubbsy (magnificent all season) out and a centre back pairing of Davey-Joey. Sandro and Tim Cahill back, and a midfield of Leon-Tim-Slaphead-Arteta-Kilbane was about the best we could get in present circumstances. As the match wore on they lacerated Villa time after time until the score might have been really embarrassing. But the home side were so poor it would be as silly to go overboard at this result as it was at last week’s débacle. Nevertheless Our Boys well deserved the 3-1 win with an exhilirating display that didn’t falter even when Joey gifted them a short-lived equaliser.

Even during the early sparring session we threatened a couple of goals. It took Villa a quarter of an hour to muster a shot from Hitzlsperger – every time he got the ball on the edge of the box some of the home crowd gave out a high pitched squeal of “Shoooooooo!” I have no idea what happened to the “t” or why it appears to have disappeared from their local argot – but he was mostly useless all afternoon, as was their midfield. It was emphasised a couple of minutes later when Killa went on one of his forceful runs left centre mid and eventually got the ball out wide left to Tim, from whence it went over in a long arc to the far stick, evading a couple of defenders on the way, and Leon ran in and butted it in from close range right side of the goal area.

Almost immediately we constructed a terrific little move right through the centre, Mikky knocked it sideways right of the D and Marcus smacked it a whisker wide of their left post. A minute later Sandro smacked another one in and had their ‘keeper in business again. It was all go until Solano hit a curving free kick from wide left which dipped dramatically and missed everyone including our left post. Appropriately the half closed out with Leon heading over and Tim missing another chance and their man hitting a half chance at Nigel Martyn.

Villa got their only break of the afternoon within a few seconds of the restart when Joey made a complete hash of a clearance our right side goal line and gave the ball away for their man to cross and a simple tap in equaliser. Which was the worst thing they could have done. We got another immediately.

A sharp move down our right involved everybody including Tony Hibbert and Marcus Bent, a curling centre from the edge of the box and a leaping header from Tim got it down and in. Villa looked completely gutted and out of it even then. From then on it was virtually non-stop attacking for twenty minutes with Leon and Marcus pulverising their centre backs almost into oblivion. Both of them missed easy chances until the inevitable happened and we notched a third with about twenty minutes left. Leon again, this time after Bent robbed the hapless Hitzlsperger and fed Tim for him to go off on an interesting dribble right side of the box, taking a few defenders with him before he squared it to Leon unmarked left side and he almost casually side footed it it home.

We had a yet more chances before the end whilst Villa could only make sporadic resistance. In the end the home side were easily outplayed and even though they hit the bar right at the death any further score by them wouldn’t have been in keeping with the match. Something like 5 or 6-1 would. It was good to see the kind of game Mikael Arteta had as he tries to adjust to the merciless pace of English football. It may well be though that in Leon-Tim-Mikky we have three players of too-similar-style. Me, I’d love to see either David Thompson or Scott Parker in there to add a bit more toughness. But that is carping. On the day you couldn’t fault anybody.

Altogether, a tidy afternoon’s work, entertaining – for us – and quite encouraging that maybe, just maybe, we can hold onto fourth spot and confound the jeremiahs and the Melledrew Tendency. Towards the end our fans were singing, “We’re all going on a European Tour.” More and more you begin to believe them.