Everton: Mucha, Neville, Duffy, Heitinga, Baines, Coleman, Fellaini, Gibson, Pienaar, Naismith, Jelavic.
Bench: Howard for Mucha(46m), Osman for Pienaar(46m), Rodwell for Naismith(58m), Vellios for Fellaini(69m), Garbutt for Baines(70m), Barkley for Gibson(72m), Bidwell for Duffy(82m), Distin, McAleny, Browning.
A hot sunny Bloomfield Road welcomed 2,100 Everton fans plus a few hundred more in the Blackpool end to the Keith Southern Testimonial. The sunshine was one of a few bright spots as Everton were easily beaten 2-0.
Everton had a full squad on duty except for Tony Hibbert, and Jags. Maggie Gueye was also missing due to his participation in the Olympics with Senegal.
The Everton fans were in full voice welcoming Jelovic with the KC and the sunshine band ditty. Everton started brightly. Baines to Jelavic to Pienaar who went down the left, stepped back inside the full back and put in a great cross for Fellaini to head home, but it was given offside. A decision the travelling Everton fans were not happy with and told the linesman.
From then on it was a poor game for Everton. Mucha had to make a couple of good saves in the first half. Keith Southern, who is now at Huddersfield played for the first fiteen minutes and then came off. Beides a good exchange between Jelavic and Naismith which saw the keeper saving the shot from Naisy. Everton had a few corners which were either cleared at the near post or were hit past the far post with nobody there.
At half time Howard, Osman and Anichebe came on for Mucha, Pienaar and Jelavic. But Everton didnt create much besides a great effort from Big Vic which hit the bar. Blackpool went ahead with a free header by Sylvester. Howard got a hand to it, but the header was too powerful. After this there were plenty of changes by both teams. Blackpool made 5 subs at once and their youngsters seemed to have more desire than ours and went 2-0 up. Ossie hit a tame shot at the keeper when he should have scored.
The bright spots were a few good pieces of link up play between Naisy and Jela, Peanuts back in an Everton shirt, Ross Barkley showing a good bit of skill and shooting, and Duffy winning a few headers. That was about it.
Anyway. What is they say. It was only a friendly. Its another run out for the senior for the senior squad. Now we have the Toy Hibbert testimonial against AEK Athens at Goodison Park at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
