Everton: Iain Turner, Mark Hughes, David Weir, Molyneux, Scott Phelan, Andy Van der Meyde, Bjarni Vidarsson, Victor Anichebe, James Vaughan, James McFadden, Irving

Bench: James Jones, John Kissock (James McFadden), Jack Rodwell (David Weir), Keiran Agard, Alan Kearney (John Irving)

Scorers: Yozzer Hughes

A strong Blues side including Jimmy Mac, Davey Weir, Big Vic and Andy Van were held to a draw in Widnes last night, by a solid looking Sheffield United side. Everton old boy Paul Gerrard was the star of the show as he kept out Everton on several occasions with some fantastic goalkeeping. It was Yozzer Hughes who netted for the Blues on the hour mark however, when he connected well with a pin point cross from Andy Van. Iain Turner in the Blues sticks was kept busy as well, but he was powerless to stop David Sommeils low drive after it took a deflection to wrong foot the keeper.

As expected Jimmy Mac and Davey Weir were withdrawn after being given just over an hour. They will now hook up with the Scotland squad tomorrow, when they will have to think of ways to stop Thierry Henry and co. at Hampden Park this weekend.

Andy Holden says: "It's not far off being the best game I've seen at this level since we won the league a few years ago. I thought it was an entertaining game from the first whistle to the last. There were chances, last-ditch tackles, good saves...it was a smashing game.

Big Davie Weir at the back, Faddy and Andy van der Meyde, they all put a shift in for us. Faddy could have had a hat-trick on a different night. I'm never happy with a point when we should have won the game. A point is the least lads deserved. But when we missed chance after chance I always felt as though we needed a second goal to kill the game off."

Andy On Yozzers Goal: "It was a superb cross and I was pleased for Hughesy because that goal rounded off a great performance from him. I had senior players in the team but I still made Hughesy my captain because he's a winner and a leader." (04/10/06)

PRE MATCH

Everton play only their second string game tonight after an interrupted start to the season. Andy Holden boys face Sheffield United tonight at Widnes (Halton Stadium). It gives Big Vic the opportunity to pair up with James Vaughan, who along with Mark Hughes are becoming three of the clubs fantastic prospects. Andy Holden is dying to get going again, as I am sure the rest of his lads are.

Andy says: "It has been a bit of a stuttering start. We had the first fixture up at Newcastle but the next two were called off. That's the way it is but I was pleased to see Victor and Mark Hughes get a game at Peterborough.

The pleasing part for me is that Vicor and Vaughany will be up front together for the first time in many, many months. Hopefully Vaughany will come through the game in one piece and we can kick on from there with him. Come and see two hungry young lads who are good pros and have plenty of will to win." (03/10/06)