Middlesboro 1 v 2 Everton 09th Sep. 2000
Watson o.g.(6min)         Jeffers(54 min),Jeffers(86min)

Kevin Campbell on the bench

Everton: Gerrard|Xaivier, Weir, Watson (S),Hughes (S)|Gravesen,Nyarko, Gascoigne,Alexandersson, | Hughes (M), Jeffers|

Bench: Moore, Gemmill, Cleland, Campbell,Simonsen.

Subs: Cleland for Nyarko(88min), Campbell for Mark Hughes(82min)

Att:30,885

If we play like this with half the squad injured imagine what a team we will be when they are all fit! What a fantastic result given the circumstances, with Everton looking like the walking wounded even more so when Davey Weir went off after 5 minutes to have stitches in a head wound after clashing with Stamp, they completely dominated this game after going a goal down. Just when were feeling dejected with the injury scene we get the great news that Super Kevin Campbell is back to cheer us up. Walter threw the shirts for the back four on the floor today and to Abel he was playing his first competitive game since Euro 2000, Steve Watson got centre half alongside Davey Weir (who played AGAIN with a gashed achilles) and Stephen Hughes pitched in at left- back. It was whilst Weir was off having treatment along with Stamp (funny how the 'Boro doctor stitched Stamp first!) that 'Boro took the lead. Boksic was giving Abel a roasting for the second time in a minute, he left him for dead and crossed into the box. There was no danger, not even a 'Boro striker, but Steve Watson stuck out a foot and it flew past Gerrard giving him no chance

If I tell you that was it as far as 'Boro's chances were concerned I am not far wrong, perhaps one other that unluckily deflected to Boksic which Gerrard saved comfortably. Everton kept going forwad, Franny got put through by Hughesy and had another one on one which Schwarz saved with his legs (but you need to be in the positions to get the chances hence his rich scoring vien at present). Mark Hughes also had a great effort which was tipped over.

HALF-TIME 1 - 0

The Everton support was magnificent singing throughout the game and it certainly encouraged the boys. After restricting 'Boro to shots from distance Everton gradually got on top. After 54 minutes Gravesen sent a 50yard pass through to Franny who smashed it from 20yards across Schwarz and it flew into the net. Franny and the Toffeemen went wild, it was as though there was an explosion the noise was so loud. 'Boro were rattled, four bookings followed all 'Boro including the Guvnor who had to be subbed as he nearly lost the plot. Then the moment we've been waiting for since last March, after 80minutes Super Kev came on for Mark Hughes and he nearly capped his comeback with a goal. From a 'Boro free kick the ball somehow found its was to Gazza who kept going forward before threading it through to Franny who pushed it past Schwarz, as it rolled slowly towards the line a defender slid in and stopped it but Jeffers followed up and made sure. Super Kev had a great chance to seal it but his shot was well saved. The sight of Walter on the right wing running up and down the touchline in the last 5 minutes before being removed by the 4th official just summed it up, total passion from the Blueboys, a brilliant performance and a fantastic result bringing us our first away win since February.

Great performances from Gazza lasting 90 minutes, Steve Watson immense in defence and Thomas Gravesen who worked tirelessly in his rightful position, but there can only be one man of the match Francis Jeffers who at this rate will be knocking on Keegan's door very soon. Tremendous performance, tremendous support, tremendous result bring on Man U!!

Walter says

"We don't have a settled team, we've got a number of injuries and players are playing in different positions in nearly every game. "I've had a good reaction from the players today after a difficult start. The last couple of games we've let a two-goal lead slip so it made a pleasant change. "But it's going to continue to be difficult for us in the next few weeks." Smith sang the praises of Geordie defender Watson. "David Weir and Steve Watson were the keys to the game," Smith added. "Steve handled the first part of it very well and the way we dealt with Boksic was excellent. After everybody settled down they played very well and I thought we were the better side."