You could hear the groans from the pub at Goodison when someone read the Everton team changes out having just received them to his mobile at 11.00am. Fuckin Sky TV or should it be fuckin greedy Premiership chairmen. Anyway that's another story. The point was Everton's classiest and best player for years, our tater was out with a sore back. In came Killa who will do his best, which is just not good enough. Dickie Wright continued to deputise for the injured Nigel Martyn. Will he ever play for us again? Nace continued at left back in place of Nuno Valente.

Everton had better of the opening 15 minute exchange. There was not much footy played, but Ossie did well early on to go on a run and lay the ball into Cahill's path, but he tamely shot straight to the time wasting redshite keeper when he should have scored. I don't think Tim knew he had more time and rushed his shot. Again Cahill had a glorious chance after Biffa headed into his path. The Aussie smashed the ball into the side netting. Beattie himself had the ball in the redshite net, but was flagged offside.

Then came the Gerrard sending off. He was wound up like a top. Not a great advert for the '08' on his back highlighting the Capital of Culture. He was booked for kicking the ball away after Everton were awarded a free-kick. Then minutes later he was off for lunging at Killa. Gerrard weakly protested that he got the ball but was walking long before the ref had the card out. Full marks for Killa who just got up dusted himself down and got on with the game. Not a trainer in sight. A pity the same can't be said about Alonso and Garcia.

This was our chance. You would have thought that Everton with a man advantage would have capitalised on and went onto win. It never happened. For the rest of the half the redshite had more possession and looked more capable of creating chances. We just were not up for it. The midfield passing was very poor. A lot of fans, players and officials have thought that after our great run in 2006, that we are capable of getting into Europe. After nearly an hour of playing against 10 men and not creating a chance of note that view will have been changed. Without the silky skills of Arteta, the Everton midfield just didn't have the know how. Plenty of inaccurate passing. Things got worse when just on half-time, Phil Neville stretching for a driven corner only managed to head it into his own net.

Half Time redshite 1 EVERTON 0

Within minutes of the restart Everton were 2-0 down. Gary Naysmith was still munching on his half-time jaffa cake as he allowed Garcia to get past him following a Crouch header, but he still with a lot to do. His mind was made up when Dickie made one of his rash decisions, when he charged out of his goal. The delighted Garcia lobbed the ball into the empty net. I'm sure John Ruddy seated a few rows in front of me in the analfield road or Iain Turner seated on the bench wouldn't have made that decision. Nigel Martyn certainly would not.

Two poor goals conceded. Even with a man advantage, it was back against the walls. Everton tried to get going, but again never stretched the opposition. With an hour of the game gone, Moyesy decided on a triple substitution with Van der Meyde, Ferguson and Davies ready to come on. He waited for Ossie to take the awaiting corner. From it Cahill rose above everyone and headed home. 2-1. Game on! The subs put their trackies back on. But it was a false dawn and for the next 10 minutes we never had the ball. Moyesy then did make the substitution. Only 2 came on. Big Dunc and Andy Pandy for Faddy and Killa. The cynics were saying Cahill was coming off, but he scored so stayed on.

For seven minutes Everton did everything in their power not to give the ball to Van der Meyde. On incident when Stubbsy had a chance to feed him on our left wing, turned and ushered Tony Hibbert down the right. Tony received the ball and does what he does well and chipped it into the goalies arms. The ball eventually reached Andy on the left, when it went high between him and Alonso. They both went to head it. Andy went for it like his namesake, Andy Gray. Alonso ended in a heap rolling and holding his face. I've not seen a replay, but Van der Meyde went for the ball there was no bent elbow aimed at the Spanish tart. The ref thought otherwise and showed him a red card. Mr Dowd showed 11 yellows in the game. With seven of the yellows collected by Everton. They will now face an FA investigation.

With Everton now on level terms again, numbers wise, we didn't create anything until the 88th minute when Ferguson headed for Biffa to shot, but his effort was saved. By that time the shite were home and dry 3-1. Wright couldn't be blamed for it. In fact he made 2 smart saves to keep the score down.

It's a hard job picking a man of the match, as there was no outstanding candidates. So my vote goes to Tim Cahill.

Full Time redshite 3 EVERTON 1

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Tim Cahill