Charlton 1 v 0 Everton                                                      23rd Dec 2000

Everton: Mhyre | Watson, Weir, Ball, Naysmith | Alexandersson, Graveson, Gemmill, Hughes,| Cadamarteri, Moore |

Bench: Simonsen, Tal, Unsworth, Ferguson, Cleland.

Subs: Tal for Moore (45m), Ferguson for Cadamarteri (62m), Unsworth for Hughes (62m)

Att :20,043

When the team was read out I was pleasantly surprised. Thomas Mhyre back in goal where he should be, 4 defenders, 4 midfield players and 2 forwards.
Mhyre got straight into the action, making a save in the first minute. Charlton had all the early pressure. Mhyre again saved Everton when he came out of his goal to save, leaving his goal unguarded. The Charlton player shot towards the empty net, but Michael Ball made a fantastic headed clearance over the bar.
Charlton took the lead from the corner when Svensen headed home.
Everton were well off the pace of the game. The midfield especially were being overrun, with ex-Everton player Graham Stuart pulling the strings. Charlton were pushing forward at will and it needed a great sliding tackle by Michael Ball to thwart Kinsella.
In the first twenty minutes Everton never had a shot on goal. It didn't help that the midfield kept humping balls up to our midget duo of Moore and Cadamarteri, but Rufus was winning all the headers. You could imagine the radio commentary "headed away by Rufus again". Keily in the Charlton goal had just one shot to save in the first half and the trainer had to break the icicles from his nose so he could take a goal kick on this cold Saturday before Christmas.
We definitely missed Campbell holding the ball up front. Moore and Cadamarteri were just not up to the job. Maybe we now know why Walter has played one up front in games recently.
Half Time 0 - 1
Idan Tal came for Moore at half time and immediately got involved by taking on a couple of players and putting over a good cross, but there was no Everton player on the end of it. Naysmith saved Everton with a smart header over the bar from another Charlton corner. Gravesen spotted Keily off is line and sent his volley just over the bar. In the 62nd minute Everton made a double substitution with Ferguson and Unsworth replacing Cadamarteri and Hughes. The lift Ferguson gave the Everton fans and his teammates was unbelievable. He was straight in to the action when he was fouled on the edge of the area. Unsworth took the free kick but it was deflected for a corner. From the corner Ferguson slid in but failed to make contact. Everton were now well on top with Tal and Alexandersson using the width well. Davy Weir came up from the back. After beating two defenders shot just wide. Since Ferguson's arrival Everton had taken the game by the scruff of the neck and had four good chances in ten minutes. From an Alexandersson cross Ferguson caused problem and Tal hit the post from an overhead kick.
Big Dunc was winning everything in the air, Idan Tal was very lively that much so Charlton brought off the full back who was marking him. Charlton were panicking with Everton controlling the game. Ferguson again caused the Charlton defence to worry and Weir shot only inches wide. Everton continued to press for the equalizer with Tal, Alexandersson, Gravesen and Ferguson in command but time finally ran out. Talk about a game of two halves.
Final score 0 - 1