Everton v Fulham - Match Report - Premiership 2005/2006

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Valente, Stubbs

, Arteta, Neville

, Cahill, Osman, McFadden, Beattie.

Bench: Davies for Valente(77m), Kilbane for McFadden(77m), Van der Meyde for Cahill(82m), Yobo, Westerveld.

It seems an eternity since we last visited the shrine to witness an amazing victory against Blackburn. A week off, two away trips, and here we were again. Maybe it is a sign of our progress, but I for one turn up at Goodison expecting a victory, especially when the opposition is as crap as Fulham.

Moyesy stuck as expected with the ten outfield players who performed so well at the Hammers seven days earlier. Dickie Wright returned in goal in place of Sandy, and avoided any mishaps with advertising hoarding's and alike to take his place in the goal.

From the off, you sensed another good afternoon was in store as our midfield magician Mikky Arteta took the game by the scruff of the neck, orchestrating everything around him. The passes flowed, the tackles flew in, and Fulham as they say was not at the races. After a lovely pass from Nuno on the quarter hour mark, Fulham's defence and Zac Knight in particular could not handle Biffa’s pace, yes I said Biffa’s pace, and the Everton marksman was felled in the box. Biffa dusted himself down and coolly converted the penalty to give the Blues a well-deserved lead.

Everton could and should have made it two moments later when Mikky and Nuno combined well down the left. Nuno’s cross-hung agonizingly too long in the air, and Biffa could only head wide.

Everton pushed and dominated the midfield, not surprisingly as Fulham’s midfielder Elliot summed up the hapless Southerners performance. He was woeful, never mind playing, it looked like he could not walk, never mind run, and as sure as the shite are shite, Biffa made it two with the most exquisite chip Goodison has witnessed since Kevin Sheedy’s day. We went wild, and Biffa sent another message to the English hierarchy, this boy is a striker in form.

Half Time EVERTON 2 Fulham 0

A pint, a sausage roll, and off we went again, and so did the Blues, and it did not take long for the third to go in. Biffa’s second goal was great, Jimmy Mac’s first, and Everton third was magnificent. The young Scottish striker unleashed a drive into Tony Warner's top right hand corner from all of thirty yards after some great interplay with Biffa. Everton went wild, three goals at home, two goals of genuine, genuine quality and a performance of the highest calibre, oh it's good to be a Blue.

Fulham did pull one back from the spot with four to go, but it was immaterial. Everton in the last few weeks have been playing with passion, skill, determination and guts, and the Man City’s, Bolton’s, Wigan's and Blackburn's will have to scrap with every last breath to stop us qualifying for Europe for the second successive season.

I had my calculator out the other day and since Everton drew with Chelski back in October we have averaged just on two points a game. Take that form over a season, and you are talking top three form, that is the sign of our improvement. It is no good resting on them facts the boys have to carry on next week against Villa, and push further up the table.

Biffa takes the bluekipper starman, run close by Mikky. The English striker covered every inch of the Goodison Park surface and netted twice. On this form he may make a late dash for the Germany flight, but then again maybe not as there is a top striker in form over at Analfield in the form of circus act Peter Crouch, I rest my fuckin’ case, Sven is an arse!!!!!!!!

Full Time EVERTON 3 Fulham 1

It Say's It All, The Team Celebrate Biifa's Strike
Biffa Is Mobbed	Everton Old Boy Bake McBride Tussles With Phil Neville

Lavo
Reports
from
Goodison Park

Blue Kipper Star Man

Awesome

Maestro

Superb

Wonder Strike

Quotes After The Game

Moyesy says: "The players played well and we are pleased to get three goals. But I think the manner of our play was as pleasing as the result. Overall, the performance merited probably more goals. They were good goals. James McFadden scored his goal very well from outside the box, as did James Beattie so we were pleased.

Mikel is in form as is the whole team, from the boys at the back right through to the front. It would be wrong to single anybody out but I think we all know how well Mikel is playing at the moment. We wanted to get the three substitutes on to make them feel a part of things but towards the end there was a moment where I thought 'gee whiz, what has happened here'. But really it would have been tough if we hadn't won quite comfortably.This was a home game and it is important we win our home games."

Biffa says: "I think Faddy's just had the edge on my goal to be honest. It was a great goal and it has put a smile on his face, we are all buzzing."

Faddy says: "There has been no argument about who scored the better goal, the most important thing is that the team is scoring and winning games. I think it was just fitting that the goals were of a high standard because they matched the performance of the whole team. It was a nice goal. It was a good ball up to Beats, he headed it back to me and I took a touch. I heard him shouting to hit it so I just gave it a go and thankfully it went in the goal. Hopefully I can now get a few more." (12/03/06)

Off The Ball

* The Club Announcer telling the fans to welcome back Brian McGee, instead of Mc Bride as the teams are read out. I'll do the job, I know footy !!!

* The Fulham midfielder Elliot, looked like a fan who paid ten grand for a game, he was that much of a passenger. He gave me the funniest afternoon's entertainment for a long time !! (12/03/06)

Everton Team News

Moyesy celebrates four years in charge of the Blues this month, and will be hoping for nothing less than maximum points against the poor travelling Cottagers. This has been a spicy encounter of late, with accusations, fights, oh and of course the Rad, who is sure to get a proper Goodison welcome.

The Blues also go searching for their 175th Premiership victory, and Moyesy will have no outfield injury worries ahead of the match. Sandy will keep his place in goal as neither Dickie or Nige are fit, but the outfield should have a familiar ring to it. Joey Yobo may be the unlucky one again as Moyesy should stick with Stubbsey and Davey, and I believe Faddy will partner Biffa up front, as the Blues go in search of goals to push them into European contention.

Look out for the return of Jimmy Vaughan is has made the squad and will be hoping to add to the Blues attacking options on the bench.

Moyesy says: "The players have done a wonderful job to get themselves in the position we are in and hopefully we can keep it going for the last ten games of the season. The last couple of games we have played quite well, but hopefully we can start picking up a few more points in the coming games. It is easier because when you are winning you feel much better than when you are losing as you would then have to try something different or try new players out.

I thought at the beginning of the season that we had good players, but it has probably taken us to Christmas time to start showing that. There are five or six of them now on top form most of the time, so if that keeps going right to the end of the season then that will keep us in a healthy position. Our recent run is down to the players coming back in to form." (10/03/06)

Everton from: Westerveld, Turner, Ruddy, Hibbert, Weir, Yobo, Stubbs, Valente, Naysmith, Arteta, Cahill, Osman, Davies, Carsley, Neville, van der Meyde, Li Tie, McFadden, Kilbane, Beattie, Vaughan.

Lavo's Everton XI To Start: Westerveld, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Valente, Arteta, Cahill, Osman, Neville, Beattie, McFadden

Lavo's Bet: £10 on Biffa(who else) 5/1

About The Opposition

Fulham come to Goodison having not won an away game all season, and having not won a game at Goodison it twelve attempts. England full-back Wayne Bridge is back in the Fulham squad and could play 10 days after damaging ankle ligaments on international duty against Uruguay.

Mark Pembridge could play for the first time this season but keeper Antti Niemi and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop are out. By the way The Rad will be in the squad, make him welcome !!!!

Fulham from: Warner, Volz, Knight, Goma, Bridge, Radzinski, Elliott, Malbranque, Boa Morte, McBride, Helguson, Crossley, Rosenior, Bocanegra, Elrich, John, N Jensen, Pembridge.

Last Season v Fulham

Match Reports 2005/2006

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