Everton v Sunderland - Match Report - Premiership 2005/2006

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Naysmith, Cahill, Neville, Davies, Osman, Beattie, McFadden

I will try and keep this a painless as possible for all our sake's. Through a season you will always get a game like this. Premiership whipping boys Sunderland, who are all but doomed, came to Goodison on April Fools Day, with a striker who has not scored since Queen Victoria was on the throne, so I don't need to tell you all what happened next. Moyesy brought back Joey, probably to give him no excuses to move on in the Summer, and Simple in place of Killa. Mikky made the bench as Moyesy kept him in reserve in case he was needed later on, he was.

Everton's problem seemed to be that after going in front so early on through Leon, they thought that the job was done. Teams when relegated with games still to play, play with less pressure, and this showed with Sunderland, who looked the more inventive and purposeful in the opening twenty minutes. Their hard work was rewarded when Jon Stead slotted home from close range, after the Everton defence gave him the freedom of Goodison Park. The crowd fell silent, and Everton played like it was back in August. The fluency off their passing had gone, the noise levels were at an all time low, and this relayed itself to the players who were all going through the motions, expecting the victory to come instead of working for it.

The Blues re took the lead ten minutes later when Jimmy Mac fired home after a long throw from Captain for the Day Phil Neville landed at his feet. Normal service resumed, and the game was poor, half time brought some light relief, a few beers and the biggest smile I have seen on Joggers face for a while, when he told us he had backed Leon for the first goal. The Chang's were on him.

H-T 2-1

The second half was as painful as the first, as Everton let Sunderland enjoy the bulk of the possession. Mikky was brought into the fray in place of Simple, and Everton picked up the tempo, as the crowd sparked into life as the Spanish Magician entered his stage. Everton pressed on more, and Jimmy squandered a great chance to put Mikky in, when he decided to fire over the bar. Moments later Sunderland threw in a quality ball, into the Everton area, and Tony Hibbert was guilty of ball watching, as he allowed Delap to run past him and smash his header into Dickie's net.

Both sides hit the woodwork, but Sunderland's effort came in the dying moments, and everyone held their breath as Delap thundered his shot from all of thirty yards against the post. Dunc was one, but it was all too little too late.

It would be nice between now and the end of the season, if the crowd refrained from sarcastic cheers and applause when Dickie clears his lines. Love him or hate, and I know how most feel about him, he is the most experienced fit keeper at the club. We all know he won't be with us much longer, but while he has the Blue, sorry green of Everton on, get behind him, as like most keepers, he thrives on confidence. While he have a chance, extreme as it now is of making Europe we need all the fans behind the players, not against them. Admittedly it was shit yesterday, but that is six wins and one draw in our last seven at Goodison. My starman vote goes to Leon, only as he was the best of a bad bunch. Right I'm off for a beer now, and more anger management counselling

F-T 2-2

Leon Scores

The Ball Nestles

Lavo
Reports
from
Goodison Park

Blue Kipper Star Man

Leon

Scored Again

Welcome Back

Quotes After The Game

Moyesy says: "I thought that we did enough to win the game. I didn't think we played particularly well, but I thought we had the chances. We hit the bar, we had opportunities even wen it went to two each, so I would have to say I am disappointed we didn't get the three points.

We didn't play quite the way I hoped we would do. We did play in fits and starts, We never really got a grip of it, even though we were in front on a couple of occasions in the first half. That was disappointing - we never really got the ball down and played. The conditions weren't brilliant. The wind was very blustery and the pitches were drying out but it was the same for both teams and we have got to give Sunderland credit. I think the conditions probably suited them more than us." (02/04/06)

Off The Ball

* The blustery conditions did not help Leon who took four attempts at taking a corner, as the wind kept blowing the ball away

* One of Dickie's clearances virtually ending back with him, as a gust of wind got hold of it.

Everton Team News

Moyesy will be without Nuno it looks like for the rest of the season, so Nace will carry on in his familiar left back role. Also missing will be Andy van who was sent off in last week's defeat by the shite. On the good news front it looks like Mikky Arteta is winning his battle with his his ropey back, and will replace Killa in midfield, oh how we missed him last week. Moyesy should definitely stick with his 4-4-2 formation, and Biffa and Jimmy will continue their partnership up front.

Joey Yobo will be left kicking his heels, as the form of Stubbsey and Davey will keep the Nigerian International on the bench again. How I bet he wishes he never went to the African Nations. Everton will go looking for their seventh straight home win, against a side that they have won their last five League and Cup matches against.

Moyesy says: "Sunderland have probably realised for a long time their situation has been difficult. I don't think anyone really likes seeing sides go down but that's the way football is. We were in that position for a while at the start of the season so I'll be sympathetic to Sunderland, they're a great club with great supporters, but at Everton Football Club, if we have to be hard and put them down, then so be it.

"We tried to change the image of Everton last year by making the Champions League. It was a big thing for us and if we can try and push and get nearer the European places, that would be great. I know it's a really difficult shout but finishing strongly will show there's been progress again at Everton. Considering the way the club was a few years ago, I think it'll be good signs and we're on a good run just now so we want to keep that going." (01/04/06)

Stubbsey says: "We have got another seven games to play now and we have to make sure we get the most from those games to see if we can give ourselves a chance of sneaking through the back door into Europe. If we took anything like 15 points from the 21 available we won't be far away.

"It is a big ask, but people would have looked at our position in October and said getting to where we are now would have been a big ask. We have been doing something right." (31/03/06)

Everton from: Wright, Hibbert, Weir, Stubbs, Yobo, Naysmith, Osman, Cahill, Neville, Arteta, Carsley, Davies, McFadden, Beattie, Ferguson, Kilbane, Turner.

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

Lavo's Bet: £10 for Mikky Arteta First Goal (14/1)

About The Opposition

The Blues could end Sunderland's brief run in the Premiership if we turn them over tomorrow, and the Baggies beat the shite down at the Hawthorns. Let's hope we do !!

Sunderland are without skipper Steve Caldwell and Julio Arca for a game that could decide their Premiership fate through injury.

Gary Breen is back after suspension and Liam Lawrence could return, but Stephen Elliott is injured again.

Sunderland from: Davis, Hoyte, Breen, D Collins, McCartney, Lawrence, Delap, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Brown, Stead, Alnwick, Miller, Le Tallec, Kyle, Woods, Murphy, Bassila, Nosworthy.

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Match Reports 2005/2006

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