*

Another very good team performance, an inspired substitution, and the end of a successful week where we looked much better than, and hopefully ended the challenge of 2 of our possible rivals. Villa looked unlucky not to win at Arsenal, but the cushion over them is now 5 points, and the only negative spot of the weekend was the goalkeeping performance at the Reebok that handed the RS 3 points when Bolton looked to be on top.

However, we couldn’t have started any better. A nice touch from Joe Yobo and Yak responded the quickest to head past Calamity James within a minute. I don’t think any of us expected the floodgates to open, but we played some excellent football, and had we been a little more accurate in front of goal, we could have been 4 or 5 ahead. The move involving Cahill and Pienaar was superb, and it was a shame that Cahill was stretching and couldn’t get a powerful shot in. Ossie twice, Phil Neville, and Lee Carsley all got shots in on goal, but were off target, but we played some good stuff to create the chances.

All credit to the boss and the coaching staff though – the switch of Neville and Ossie paid off with Ossie looking much more threatening in the middle, and they have turned the Yak into a much more complete centre forward than when he first came, and we now have a real goalscorer and much more of a team player. However, the game had gone flat after Portsmouth’s fortunate equaliser, and if anything, they were starting to dominate. The change had to be made, and AJ’s introduction turned the game in our favour. He made an immediate impact with his pace, running into channels, and pulling the defenders out of position, and his through ball for the Yak’s excellent finish, couldn’t have been placed better.

The good thing about this team is that we can play 4-5-1 comfortably, can switch to 4-4-2 effectively and all the players work hard for each other and the team, and the togetherness and team spirit is very apparent. I expect AJ will have been gutted to sit out the last 2 games, but he has played his part when he has came on as sub. Hibbo looked disappointed to be brought off, but it was the correct substitution, and even the Yak didn’t seem to want to go off, which wasn’t the case earlier in the season.

Our corners looked much better, as we managed to get the ball past the first defender, although a bit more variation especially against a team with so much height may have been more productive. Also we need to do a bit better with our free kicks in good positions, as Carsley badly wasted the one we had yesterday. However, these are only very minor points and I am sure the coaching staff are addressing these.

It was again tough to pick a MOM as most of the team would have a case, but AJ turned the game, the Yak’s finishing was top class, and Ossie and Pienaar were a threat throughout, while Yobo and Jags didn’t put a foot wrong – tough call but I am going for the Yak.

We are coping with the absence of Arteta at present, and we lose Carsley for the Sunderland game through suspension, so we may go for 4-4-2 at the SOL. Whereas we now have 2 very winnable away games, the RS have 3 very easy home games. However its 1 game at a time, and next up is what could be a tough game in Florence, especially on the back of their 3-2 win at Juve yesterday. However, just like in 85, I feel as if we can go out and win every game, and it’s a great feeling to have. Graeme Holmes

Fan’s armchair match report by WKBlue

I’m at a loss for words right now. It is an encouraging sign when one loses track of the number of CONSECUTIVE wins, the number of league games unbeaten, and the Everton Juggernaut 2k8 destruction machine keeps on rolling! There’s no stopping it!

I knew that today was a six pointer, and for five minutes yesterday afternoon, I was on knees thanking God (well, as least Bendtner) for Arsenal’s last second equaliser Vs Villa, which gave us this chance to secure 4th place until Wednesday at least. With Liverpool running riot over a potentially doomed Bolton side, Everton took their chance with aplomb (and in past seasons, it has been seldom the opportunity we can say that!)

To a man, Everton were phenomenal today. At times this season, passing, delivery and man to man combat has been frustrating to say the least – but today, it was all about winning individual battles, being first to every ball, dazing Pompey with fancy footwork and shoring up the defence against the admirable threat of Defoe and Kanu when required.

The writing was on the wall (or so it seemed) in the first three seconds of play. Portsmouth kicked off, Yakubu intercepted, Yakubu went down, free kick in, Yakubu scored. It was as simple as that. Portsmouth were understandably demoralised, but not obviously not yet beaten as a chance immediately went begging for the visitors

As the half wore on, Everton were much the superior side – perhaps the gulf was not as large as that against Man City on Monday – but their neat passing and support work was absolute joy to behold, far surpassing anything they had produced in recent home games (Brann aside perhaps). Balls were being played nicely to feet, yet chances to bury Portsmouth were not taken. If there was one flaw today, it was that Krancjar was not given enough attention down the right, even though Hibbert had one of his better games. It was the Croat who swung it in perfectly, and with Defoe getting a lace to the ball, Howard was beaten. 1-1.

Now it was Portsmouth who had the incentive, and it was a relief to go in 1-1 at the break. It has always been a fear of mine that when the opposition score a good goal after Everton dominance, Everton will cave in a la Man Utd last season, Arsenal two months ago and certain routs in early 2005/06. That didn’t happen, and although Portsmouth began as they left off, Everton came into the game. Their game improved significantly as Johnson came on for Hibbert – Moyes’s attack minded, positive tactics today were the complete arse over tit opposite of the Tottenham farce last season – and it made all the difference. With Everton now on the front foot, Portsmouth collapsed. Pienaar acted as a means to finding Cahill’s head in the area to make it 2-1 – a throwback to Cahill’s goal against Portsmouth in 2004, which propelled Everton into the top four way back when.

Eight minutes later, it was three. Yakubu used his strength to get behind the back line and one blur of the Yak’s boots later and the ball was in the back of David James’s net! The rest of the game was simply a running down of the clock with Anichebe coming on for Yakubu, Everton showed silky skills throughout this period and could easily have made it 4 or 5. Portsmouth’s only notable effort in this time was a Defoe strike going narrowly wide.

So an excellent day all round for the mighty blues who roll into Wearside on Saturday. Although Sunderland will undoubtedly be a much tougher proposition this time round with their strong home record, Everton should have enough in their spunk bank to take the points, having done the hard work this week by beating their European rivals.

RATINGS

Howard – 8 – Solid and dependable as usual.
Hibbert – 7 – Did well today.
Jagielka – 8 – His game is improving every week.
Yobo – 8 – Rock solid.
Lescott – 8 – Ditto.
Neville – 6 – OK, but made to look like a right numpty a couple of times.
Carsley – 7 – Grit and determination appear next to him in the dictionary.
Pienaar – 9 – MAN OF THE MATCH: Influential, skilful, confident, quick, clever, deadly… handsome… PLEASE, PLEASE GET THIS GUY PERMANENTLY! PLEEEEASE!
Osman – 6 – Quieter game, showed himself as an option going forward.
Cahill – 8 – Similar to Pienaar, though had a tendency to be out muscled by brutes like Diop and Diarria. Was there when required to swing the game Everton’s way.
Yakubu – 9 – Weighed in with two vital goals. Game was exceptional all round, but still can’t depose the majestic and immortal Pienaar as MOM.

SUBS
Johnson – 7 – Failed to score, but essentially gave Everton more options resulting in the winner.
Anichebe – 6 – Nothing special, all the hard work had been done anyway.
Baines – N/A – Just a cameo for Bainsey today.

Andre Mariner – 6 – Didn’t give a penalty at 1-0 when Pienaar was fouled in the area. Otherwise competent display.

Moyesy says: We were very good and we have been for most of the season and we are improving all the time. It was an outstanding result against a Portsmouth side that doesn't lose very often away. We got off to a fantastic start and then wasted three or four good opportunities and it came back to punish us. I thought it was a poor to concede and it is not the way it has been for us because the way the defenders have done in recent months has been terrific. It was a lapse in concentration.

I thought Andrew Johnson made the difference at that period in the game because they started the second half much better. We were causing them problems but without getting behind and getting shots on goal. Andy got some runs in and started to worry them. Harry (Redknapp) will know more than anyone that he scores goals wherever he plays. But he is doing more than what he has done for his other clubs here because he is a great footballer as well. He is loved here, he is wanted and long may that continue."

New England Boss Fabio Cappello says: "Everton are a good team and it will be an interesting game against Fiorentina. "Fiorentina have an injury to one of their best players, Adrian Mutu, and he is very important for them. Everton are a very well organised team and the players stay in good positions on the pitch, so I think they will be dangerous opponents for Fiorentina right now." (03/03/08)

Blue kipper regular Micky Houghton will be commentating on Sky Sports Fan zone for this game. Micky says: "Tune in if you get a chance, as always I will give a shout out to all the Kippers!!! And the Mums (Mothers day). Come on you Blues, big push for Europe."

* During first half Victor and Vaughany warming up in front of us, as usual banter flying and laughing between them. Then Vaughany decides to kick grass at Victor which gets in his ear. Vaughany runs off laughing being chased by Vic like schoolboys down to the Park End! Kids eh! Jan, Lee, Ashley & Tom Carley. Great Sankey. Warrington.

* Peanuts has had his hair done. Oh dear!

* Lavo and The Pompey Loon Discuss The 3-1 Win To The Blues

*

Well how do you improve on Monday nights fantastic away victory at Manchester City, simple you have Mikky Arteta back at your disposal. The problem being is someone will have to make way for our Spanish magician, and me thinks that some one will be Hibbo. It is a shame as he was brought in to do a job on Petrov on Monday night, and he did that job fantastically well. Moyesy however needs goals, and me thinks Phil Neville will drop back into defence, freeing up another place in the middle for a bit more creativity.

In saying all that, a bout of the two bob bits is doing the rounds at Goodison, and Peanuts and Joey have been hopping on and off the loo dealing with it. Both though should be ok, especially with the extra days rest.

If we beat Pompey on Sunday, we will do our Champion League ambitions no harm at all, with effectively taking Pompey and Man City, two of our main rivals out of the race for fourth. The Blues go into the match unbeaten in 2008, our last defeat being against The Arse back in late December. We are currently two points better off at the same stage of the season when we finished in fourth position back in 2005, but undoubtedly we are playing better football with a far superior squad. I am excited, no really excited !!

Moyesy says: "I think there is a chance, I think he could play if we needed him to play. I am going to see how he is and hopefully get him back in the squad if we can do. If we can give him a chance to rest we will do, but he has played a lot of the season with the injury and it hasn't forced him to rest too much. I don't think it needs surgery. We have had it scanned, and there's no real damage there so at this present time - not that I am a doctor, but from what I'm being told by the medical team - there's no surgery required. He wants to be involved and we want him involved. He's got through for a while so I can't see why he can't get through for the remaining eight or ten weeks. Other players have stepped up to the mark. We have had to do it in the past. Yes, he's important to us but if he's not available other people get opportunities and to be fair, they have been taking them." There's a bit of sickness around the club. Steven Pienaar came off sick (against City) and Joseph Yobo was sick as well and there's one or two others so I'm going to have to hope they all come through." (01/03/08)

Lavo's XI To Start: Howard, Lescott, Jagielka, Yobo, Neville, Carsley, Arteta, Osman, Cahill, Pienaar, Yakubu

Everton from: Howard, Wessels, Neville, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Valente, Baines, Osman, Carsley, Arteta, Pienaar, Fernandes, Cahill, Vaughan, Anichebe, Yakubu, Johnson.

Last Season v Pompey

IF ANY EVERTON FAN WANTS TO WRITE A REPORT OF ANY OF THIS SEASON'S GAMES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO. JUST E-MAIL IT TO info@bluekipper.com AND WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SITE.

Moyesy might have fell out with The Yak the other week, but the Nigerian forward is single handedly getting me back onto the housing ladder. A few weeks ago, an average size cardboard box was my home, but now with The Yak in free scoring heaven, I am moving rapidly back up the property market. I had my Army and Navy Stores Tent last week, and look what I now have. Yep my new log cabin, and if all goes well this week, I could be trading in for a nice mid sized terrace.

After all that I am giving The Yak a miss though this week and pumping a few groats on Mikky to score at any time in the match. With all this in the papers about Everton not getting any penalties, you just know what is going to happen, that's right I am going to get pissed. You should be looking at 3/1 on Mikky on the betting exchanges. Off to collect some wood now for my new place, oh life is sweet.

Pompey have Jermain Defoe, Kanu, ex shit 'ed Milan Baros and John Utaka available up front, but Kanu may be rested ahead of next week's FA Cup quarter-final. Ex Blues prospect David Nugent (groin) is still missing and Pedro Mendes is out after having a minor operation on his foot.

Pompey's Herman Munster says: "It's a massive game. Everton have set the pace. There are 11 games to go and we're six points behind Everton. If we beat Everton then we'll be three points behind a Champions League spot with 10 games to go, so I think we have to aim high and see where it takes us. But if we lose it's nine points adrift and that will be a mountain to climb."

Portsmouth from: James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu, Defoe, Baros, Utaka, Lauren, Davis, Hughes, Aubey, Ashdown.