*

There are really two match reports that can be written for this game: the one that we must write and the one that, but for yet another display of woeful refereeing, we should be writing.

We started brightly, had an early scare when young Tomkins struck the bar, but that served as a warning, and we soon picked up the pace, put some flowing moves together, and were 1-0 up in the 8th minute. Big Vic and the Yak combined after some uncharacteristic route one football, and Yak used his strength to turn his man and powered a beautiful finish past Green. We shortly lost Tint tim to what seems a recurrence of his foot injury, but on came Manny, a top class replacement.

A few minutes later we reach the turning point, after a lovely move, the ball is taken off the foot of Ossie by Scott Parker (who, match officials, does in fact play for West Ham, despite the summer’s transfer rumours) and fell through to the Yak, who turned and slotted into the far corner. I was jumping up and down, along with quite a few others I’d imagine, but unfortunately the linesman had other ideas. Despite the fact that Yakubu was behind their wing backs when he received the ball, and remained there even after he’d turned and finished, the linesman was convinced that he had strayed offside. Having been watching the game on TV from New Zealand, I had the benefit of the instant replays that I hardly needed, it was blatant, and there can be no excuse.

After that the game was a whole different matter. We were a little frustrated, and they were not only relieved, but inspired to push on and take advantage of their second chance. At 2-0 it was game over, and I could honestly have seen us go on to put 7 past them, as we did oh-so-memorably a few years ago. As it was, they came back into the game, started passing the ball round, and although they couldn’t do anything with it with our defence easily handling the lone threat of Ashton, had the majority of possession.

Half time came, and we needed a change, it was clear, unfortunately Moyesy didn’t have anything to change on his bench, out attacking options which for most of the season have been plentiful, now look worryingly short. Curbishley on the other hand, had more available, and brought on Sears, pushing two up front, his pace to play off Ashton’s power, and it worked.

After another bright start to the half, where we had put some nice moves together but never really managed to test Green, Lucas Neill was left in space midway inside our half, a lapse in our so far dogged closing down, and floated a cross in towards Ashton on the penalty spot. He beat Jags to it, and put a decent header towards the near post where Howard got a decent hand to it, but could only palm onto the post to see it rebound into the net. A disappointing goal to concede, Neill should have been closed and arguably Jags could have been more of a nuisance to Ashton, but he is a big twat, but Howard really should have done better with the header: it was from about 13 yards out, and though struck well he should have had ample time to get across, and having got a solid hand to it, should have been able to put it round the post, rather than onto it.

From here on in, we had a semi-revival, found some urgency and pushed on, but we still couldn’t really create any real danger, The Yak looked hungry and was dropping for the ball, but Big Vic was tiring – we needed fresh legs, but simply had none.

Towards the end we had a few late scares, Jags put under pressure by Sears all but fell over the ball, leaving him one on one but Howard was out sharply to make a great save, another time Sears was put through to poke past Howard, but the ball came back off the post and Jags cleared. It would have been terribly harsh of we had lost this one, we didn’t play particularly well, nowhere near what we can, but we certainly deserved the draw and in my view, all three points, having scored two goals to their one.

Individually, there were some good performances, Jags played well bar his few lapses, and Carsley was as reliable as ever, with Osman a little magician in the midfield, he was everywhere at times, and he scared them shitless. Fernandes had a good game after he came on for Tim, he showed his more workmanlike side, letting Arteta and Osman try and work the magic, he sat in the middle and swept up, playing some lovely balls in the process, was very impressed, if he can combine that with his trickery then he will be a very complete player. Man of the Match though, goes to the Yak, on the score sheet again, and should have been on there twice; he worked tirelessly and made their defenders work hard.

We now need the Mancs to do us a favour and stuff the Shite tomorrow, then if we can find our form (and some attacking options) for the Derby next week, we can go a point clear of them and take pole position for the 4th spot. Let’s not forget, we should by rights be there already, after having been denied by the ref in the first Derby this season, as well as tonight and numerous other occasions: we could be top of the league really.

Come on you Blues, it’s been a great season so far, let’s finish it off properly. Adam Howard.

Moyesy says: "It leaves us in fifth place which is a good position to be in and we have gained a point on the sides below us. Yak scored what looked like a good goal and Victor had a chance through one-on-one. I could have done with freshening things up in the second half but we didn't have any forward players to put on. Are injuries worrying me? A little bit, but I am more bothered about the players that are fit."

* Can see this this one being close. I'm with lavo. The Yak giving us a hard fought 1-0 Victory. COYB Grego IOM

* Everton to win easily 3-0 and get the show back on the road. The Yak(2) and Peanuts to score. Cookie

Moyesy has selection problems ahead of our clash with West Ham, with a host of strikers on Basil Rathbone's treatment table. James Vaughan can wave goodbye to this season as his knee injury needed surgery in America, thankfully though he is making good progress. AJ is a doubt after hobbling off in the defeat to Fulham, and Big Vic has a ropey hip (he does not look old enough). Tiny Tim is also a major doubt and I will be surprised if he starts. Politics me thinks, as if he starts this weekend, Australia may insist that he travels for their midweek friendly, and Moyesy will not be wanting that in Derby week. So Hibbo will come in at right back, Phil Neville will push into the middle and The Yak will if AJ does not make it plough a lone furrow up front.

The Blues go for a trio of victories against West Ham this season after two victories within four days back in December in the Carling Cup and the Premiership. The Yak scored in both matches as we won 2-1 then 2-0. Another good omen is the fact that since the inception of the Premiership the Blues have took more point of West Ham than any other club, lets keep it up.

Moyesy says: "It's great that we are playing on the Saturday. We did well in the two games down there and we had to because they are improving. Last year they just avoided relegation and now they are in the top half of the Premier League. Alan Curbishley has made good progress. I am not underestimating West Ham one little bit. The games they had were difficult games and it could have happened to anybody. You have seen Tottenham's form and Chelsea's, and they had Liverpool (the shite) too. We will take nothing for granted. It is only a chance to catch them if we win our game. We have to make sure we don't allow the teams behind us to catch us up, first and foremost we have to consolidate the position we are in. From that we have to try and build on it and keep winning games. If we play as well as we have for the majority of the season, I will be happy." We have asked Leon Osman to play in two or three different roles recently but the more we see him, central midfield might be his best position. He can also play wide, and he has also been a forward. More importantly, he is a really good team player. I have said many times he could make the step up to the international stage. Some of his performances are very close to international quality." (21/03/08)

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

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

Last Season v De Hammers

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.

I need this one, as after a few weeks of success back in January, life has dealt me a shitty hand in the last few weeks with no joy at the bookies. I am down to my last can of Tennents, and only the Yak can stop my flow from running out. The Everton front man has scored twice against the Hammers this season, and he can be backed at 5/1 for the first goal. Do it Yak, or its the furniture polish next. (21/03/08)

West Ham defender Matthew Upson should be fit despite a calf problem, while Luis Boo Mattte returns from suspension. Striker Bobby Zamora is struggling to overcome painful blisters and Carlton Cole is also a concern.

Alan Curbishley says: "I have said for the last couple of weeks I have wanted to introduce one or two of the youngsters to give them a taste of it. So I will now pick and choose the games which I think are right. We have got eight games left and I will try to integrate a few of them and see how they shape up."

West Ham from: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Spector, McCartney, Solano, Parker, Mullins, Ljungberg, Ashton, Zamora, Walker, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Tompkins, Sears, Collison, Noble, Pantsil.