Everton: Turner, Wynne, Fox, Hughes, Bosnar, Phelan, Seargeant, Harris, Chadwick, Vaughan, Wilson

Bench: Anichebe (Wilson 60), Boyle (Harris 82), Fowler, Gallagher, Wright.

Goalscorers: Chadwick (pen 75)

Everton suffered their first defeat in three games last night, as a Brum side easily beat the Blues. The score should have been more in the favour of the Midlanders, but for keeper Iain Turner, whose heroics in the Everton sticks made the scoreline easier reading.

Birmingham took the lead from the spot on the fifteen minute mark when a pull on the shirt was spotted by the referee, and striker Barrowman duly slotted the spot kick past Turner. The Scots keeper continued with his busy evening, when he saved well from Curtis and Barrowman again. Everton's only effort in the first half landed to Vaughan, but on the stroke of half time, he fired his shot over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, Barrowman and Birmingham doubled their advantage for the evening, when he chipped the oncoming Turner. The Birmingham forward was denied a hat trick when that man Turner again tipped a long range effort around the post. Everton were afforded a glimmer of hope, when Birmingham conceded a penalty, and Chaddy coolly pulled one back for Andy Holden's men.

Everton pushed on looking for the equaliser, but Birmingham held firm, and were good value for their three points. (03/11/04)

Andy Holden says: "We were poor. We didn't come out of the blocks. We were second to everything and we got what we deserved at the end of the 90 minutes. They threatened to do that last week against Manchester City, but we managed to sort things out in the second half. There weren’t enough people taking responsibility. It seemed that there wasn't enough people getting on second balls and making things happen. We lost too many 50-50 balls - we simply weren't competing.

If for the first 25 minutes or half an hour, they were getting tackles and going about they game correctly, I'd have been happy. However, from the first whistle to the last we were second best. These are only young boys and it's a big ask, but I don't think it's that big of an ask when they can't get simple things right." (03/11/04)

Andy Holden's young guns take on take on Brum at Southport's Haig Avenue this evening. Holden's youngster's who have only lost one in their last five outings, have a similar look about the squad again tonight. Back with the rezzies after his little trip to the Goodison sub's bench is defender Danny Fox. Fox who made the Everton squad on Saturday, has been catching the eye of Moyesy, and hopes to continue his good form this evening against a strong Brum side. Also in the squad is Nick Chadwick, who increasingly looks likely to be on his way out at Goodison, after failing to make Moyesy's Carling Cup squad last week against Preston. (02/11/04)

Everton from: Turner, Wynne, Fox, Hughes, Bosnar, Phelan, Seargeant, Harris, Chadwick, Vaughan, Wilson, Fowler, Gallagher, Anichebe, Wright, Boyle, Vidarsson.