Clattenburg; the best Premier League referee chooses this games to make
four howlers and hand the game to the away team. Which is a shame because for the rest of the
game he was pretty much spot on for everything.
Bright sun lit one end of Goodison Park
and the other end was in cool shadows on an Autumn Saturday afternoon in Liverpool. The
shadows hinted at the darkness to come but the brightness mirrored the
expectant faces of both sets of fans, the long awaited game had finally arrived
and we had tickets. Watching on TV isn’t
the same as being there, you miss the noise of the crowd and song, chants,
groans and ripples of emotions wash over the packed faithful. San Siro, Stadio de Olimpico, Stadio Delli
Alpi, Old Trafford, White Hart Lane, Villa Park, Sealand Road or the Saunders
Honda Stadium, Memorial Stadium, Stadion Evzena Roisickeho, Dynamo Stadium, Estadio
Hernando Siles, Shizuoka Stadium all wish they could have the atmosphere that
The Derby generates.
Maybe thinking about the game in
midweek but certainly hampered by injuries Moyes picks Howard in goal, a back
four of Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs and Lescott is agile and strong and the lack of
speed is made up for by a fast brain in the case of veteran Stubbs; Arteta
occupies the right of midfield with Jagielka and Neville sitting in the middle
providing some protection for the back four and to combat a powerful Liverpool
midfield, Osman play wide left; Anichibe and Yakubu play up front, the two
Africans bringing strength and aerial prowess along with an ability to hold up
the ball.
Benitez, with a tough midweek
trip and injuries picked Reina in goal with a back four of Finnan, Carragher,
Hyypia and Riise, very solid and with the ability to get forward; Gerrard plays
wide right with Sissoko and Mascherano inside whilst Benayoun occupies the left
flank; Kuyt and Voronin play together up front.
The first salvos are fired as
Riise gets physical to win the ball from Arteta on the right flank, the throw
in is cleared and Benayoun breaks up the Liverpool
left, he finds Gerrard and the scouser overruns the ball.
The midfield is congested and
hectic so Liverpool utilize the long ball, Hyypia’s attempt is wild but
Finnan’s is better and finds Benayoun, the Israeli works the left well and cuts
inside, twisting and turning to evade Hibbert he lays the ball off for Voronin
but the Ukrainian’s shot is soft and straight at Howard who is bale to claim
his spill at the feet of Kuyt. Hibbert
shouldn’t have let the ball bounce and given the visitors a chance, poor play
by the oft criticized right back.
Gerrard delivers a good ball in which
falls to Voronin, the Ukrainian, without his shooting boots on today skies the
edge of the area shot.
Everton struggle to find any rhythm
and the passing of Liverpool is making life
tough in the middle, particularly as the home side is intent of being generous
with the ball; the away side hasn’t got any cutting edge up front.
Benayoun, having a riot in the
first half, gets onto Gerrard’s pass but the cross is cleared; a Liverpool free kick is wasted, Osman breaks and finds
Yakubu, Carragher wins the ball well.
Arteta takes a free kick on the
right, the ball in is superb and Liverpool only half clear, Osman wins a corner
as it comes back in, a tricksy play between Arteta and Osman is spotted and
blocked by Voronin, another corner is half cleared and Neville swing one in but
ends up with a goal kick, Liverpool look susceptible on set pieces.
Mascherano hoofs upfield
aimlessly, Jagielka plays a ball to Lescott on the left and his cross is
cleared; Everton’s free kick is cleared by a leaping Hyypia; as on the quarter
hour Everton start come back into the game having weathered the early pressure
from Liverpool.
Riise’s deep ball catches Kuyt
just offside and the midfield has calmed a bit, Sissoko hits it long to
Benayoun who can’t get his cross in a sees the ball go behind for a goal kick;
Sissoko gives up possession to Osman and the Englishman works the ball on the
right, Liverpool break up the move and hoof it upfield.
Gerrard injects some pace on the
right and gets the ball from a scrum of players, he carries the ball to the
byline and whips it in but Stubbs positional sense allows him to clear it ahead
of Kuyt at the near post.
Osman skins Hyypia on the right
and lobs in a ball from the byline, Reina does well to tip it onto the bar and
behind as two Everton players were lurking at the back post; the resultant
Arteta corner is scrambled clear.
Everton are starting to apply
pressure to Liverpool , they win more of the ball in midfield and are getting
forward more, their set pieces trouble the visitors whose opportunities come
from the home side propensity to be sloppy with possession occasionally.
Lescott breaks up the left and
lays the ball to Yakubu, the big Nigerian holds the ball up under pressure and
lobs it beyond Finnan, the Irishman beats Lescott to the ball but gives up the
corner; another excellent corner merely goes for a goal kick.
Anichibe holds up the ball on the
edge of the Liverpool area and lays it wide to
Hibbert, the full back crosses and Osman almost gets a headed goal but Reina is
alert to the danger; it comes out and Voronin concedes a throw in, Neville’s
long throw comes out to Osman who shins a volley high from the D.
Yakubu tracks back to strip the
ball from Finnan and runs off down the left, Gerrard tracks back and fouls the
Nigerian, from Arteta’s free kick Anichibe heads just over.
Benayoun finds the ball and
launches a Liverpool attack, but a too narrow Liverpool
concedes the ball; a Riise free kick is deflected wide then Everton handle both
corner kicks.
The home team keep their foot on
the gas with a flowing move starting on the right, Arteta works the ball to
Yakubu who finds Osman inside, the ball is played into Lescott but Finnan cuts
out the play before thaw cross can be delivered; the throw in comes to Osman at
the top of the D but he is closed down before he can get his volley off
Lescott gallops down the
unguarded Liverpool right and delivers a neat ball which Finnan does well to
head behind; the near post delivery is headed on and it falls to Stubbs who has
drifted off the back, he dinks it back in and a deflections sees it drop into
the six yard box, Hyypia turns and shoots to beat his own ‘keeper for the
opening goal.
The Liverpool fightback doesn’t materialize
and Everton aren’t content to just sit on their lead; Lescott again heads
upfield into the space vacated by Gerrard, he finds Yakubu who shrugs of
Mascherano disdainfully but with men waiting in the area is final cross is weak
and Reina claims unchallenged.
Kuyt fails to beat the offside
trap again; Neville finds Lescott who delivers a fine testing cross but Osman
rushes the shot and the chance goes begging.
Liverpool
is looking stuttery and ill at ease as Everton hold firm.
A Gerrard shot from a throw in is
woefully high; Neville defends well from Kuyt; a Finnan cross is cleared and a
Riise cross is just terrible.
Neither Moyes not the Benitez use
any substitutes at the half.
An early Liverpool
flurry sees a Voronin cross cleared and Kuyt offside but an away onslaught on
Howard’s goal doesn’t materialize, Everton look more composed than their
opponents.
Arteta skins Finnan on the left,
he dances and dribbles and when his way to goal is blocked he lays the ball
back to Lescott who attacks the area and wins a corner; the ball in is cleared
and Voronin sees Gerrard and plays the Captain in, slack defending from Yobo
allow the Englishman to get onto the ball and his pace take him past Hibbert,
the right back stupidly decides to grab Gerrard’s shirt rather than let Howard
have a go at a save then Gerrard goes down rather easily, Clattenburg points to
the spot and shows Hibbert the red card,
Kuyt converts well from the spot for the equalizer.
Down to ten men the home side
still looks to attack, Lescott wins a corner kick which is half cleared and as
the ball comes back in the left back is smothered illegally by Finnan but
Clattenburg isn’t interested.
Clattenburg you wanker!
Voronin breaks on the right but a
ball inside to Riise is skied aimlessly.
A Neville throw finds Anichibe in
the area, he holds the ball up and finds Yakubu, unable to turn the Nigerian
tries an overhead kick which Reina calmly claims; Liverpool apply some pressure
to win a corner, Kuyt’s shot is blocked by Anichibe, Voronin’s shot from the
rebound is well saved by Howard and Kuyt heads over from eight yards out.
Yakubu finds space on the right
his cross finds his countrymen who battles well but is dispossessed, the two
Nigerians combine again, this time Anichibe’s battling gets the ball to Yakubu,
with space and twenty five yards out the 22 unleashes a fierce drive which
flashes just wide.
Kuyt and Voronin combine to
utilize the extra space but Lescott snuffs out the attack; Gerrard plays in
Voronin on the right but the Ukrainian’s cross is poor.
Benayoun comes off for Babel and
the Dutchman is straight in the action, he finds space on the right, beats
Lescott, cuts the ball back to Sissoko, he manages to get the ball to Gerrard
but on his left foot the powerful drive goes straight at Howard; Riise and
Voronin can’t quite combine then Yobo beats Kuyt to a through ball and plays it
to his ‘keeper, Everton attack from the clearance which Liverpool smother.
Gerrard is controversially brought
off and Brazilian Lucas gets his Liverpool
debut in the cauldron of The Derby.
Gerrard and Benitez exchange no pleasantries as the Captain comes off
with a thunderous scowl.
Mascherano has a wild long range
shot and a Hyypia cross is too deep, Sissoko gets the ball but his cross is
cleared by Stubbs.
The game is very open with
Everton playing well despite being down a man; they look more dangerous coming
forward as Liverpool seem unable to exploit their
numerical advantage.
Babel wins a corner and the ball finds Lucas
who plays in Voronin, the Ukrainian cuts back into trouble and shanks his shot
well wide from close range.
McFadden comes on for
Yakubu.
Everton just manage to scramble
clear a Liverpool ball into the area, it falls to Sissoko who shoots wide from
a promising position; Mascherano finds Riise but Voronin only gets a throw in;
Arteta steals the ball from Lucas but Liverpool close him down; the visitors
break and a Finnan cross finds Voronin only for the Ukrainian to head wide; Neville
and Arteta clear a second Finnan cross; Mascherano finds Lucas who work the
ball to Sissoko, Babel is the recipient but his final effort is poor.
Baines comes on for
Anichibe.
A Stubbs free kick is well struck
but well wide; McFadden wins a corner off another free kick, Liverpool
half clear and Arteta puts the ball back in only for Reina to punch clear.
Everton clear a Liverpool
corner but are sitting back a bit more.
Pennant comes on for
Sissoko.
Carragher and McFadden get
yellow, the Scot for a foul and the Englishman for mouthing off.
Everton can’t clear their lines
and the ball pinballs in the area, Lucas latches onto it but is denied a goal
by an acrobatic save from Neville, not being the ‘keeper the Everton player is
shown the red card and Howard faces Kuyt again.
The ‘keeper guesses right and gets a hand to the shot; had the hand been
stronger he would have ensured Everton a point but his ‘keeping was poor and
Liverpool take the lead.
A final flurry from the home side
sees Neville put the ball in from a throw; Carragher manhandles Lescott to the
grass but play continues with no penalty given.
Clattenburg you wanker!
The home side withstood the early
Liverpool onslaught and played themselves into the game, their set pieces
always difficult for Liverpool to deal
with. The own goal was fortuitous but
looked like coming anyway. Good play
from most players; apart from the occasional giving away of possession. They looked to have the Liverpool
team worked out. Some terrible decisions
messed up a close game.
The Fat Spaniard can be smug and
talk about players diving (meaning Lescott) but his team was mostly out
played. They had their chances but
lacked the cutting edge up front.
Gerrard worked well when he got more central but then was taken
off.
Clattenburg you wanker!
Loudly and proudly I’d held you
up as a shining example of how to referee.
All this season you have been practically flawless, a word, a gesture
instead of a card, you seemed to have the respect of the players and managed
games with a calm demeanor and an undraconian authority.
For 90 minutes you acquitted
yourself well, words instead of cards to Stubbs and Carragher, you let the game
flow and allowed the players to play and you were consistent; the holy grail of
the men in black.
The red for Neville was correct
as well.
You were almost perfect and then
you make four awful decisions.
Clattenburg you wanker!
You pulled out a yellow card for
Hibbert, then after Gerrard came over yelling you put it back into your pocket
and pulled out a red. So now you make
important game changing decisions based on the rants of players!
Clattenburg you wanker!
You obviously were going to give
Hibbert the yellow; you had it in your right hand ready to wield it; and as we
all know the cards are kept in different pockets so it’s not a mistake. You just changed your mind after comments
from a player, that’s not the way to referee, because every player is going to
claim it wasn’t a foul or a handball or a penalty.
Clattenburg you wanker!
Some referees may have given the
penalty others may have not, the contact was minimal and Gerrard went down
easy.
Steve Finnan putting both his
arms over the shoulders of Joleon Lescott and holding him back to prevent him
reaching a ball in the area then pushing him to the ground is only not a
penalty if your name is Clattenburg and you are a wanker!
Clattenburg you wanker!
Dirk Kuyt gets tackled and
decides to get some revenge, Phil Neville is lucky the Dutchman didn’t make
contact with a wild and dangerous two-footed lunge. The intent was clear but he only gets a
yellow.
Clattenburg you wanker!
Jamie Carragher using both arms
to wrap up Joleon Lescott then using his right leg to apply more pressure
before hauling him backwards in the area is only not a penalty if your name is
Clattenburg and you are a wanker!
Clattenburg you wanker!
Two simple decisions, why you
didn’t make them is beyond me, they were at the heart of the action and were on
the ball. Lescott has been a handful at
set pieces all season so he’ll be the Everton player marked tightest by the
defence. Did you let that simple fact
slip from your preparation?
The conclusion as to why you
failed to spot two blatant penalties and ignored both of them is that you are
just a wanker.
How can someone who had risen to
be an example to all around him be such a wanker!
Not only did you hand the
redshiite the game but you did it at Goodison
Park, were you trying to
set a new precedent with refereeing decisions going to the away team.
Clattenburg you wanker!
Everton:-
Howard
Hibbert
Yobo
Stubbs
Lescott
Arteta
Jagielka
Neville
Osman
Yakubu (McFadden 77)
Anichibe (Baines 84)
Bookings:-
Hibbert (R)
McFadden
Neville (R)
Goals:-
Hyypia (OG) 37
Liverpool:-
Reina
Finnan
Carragher
Hyypia
Riise
Gerrard (Lucas 71)
Mascherano
Sissoko (Pennant 88)
Benayoun (Babel 68)
Voronin
Kuyt
Bookings:-
Kuyt
Carragher
Goals:-
Kuyt 54 (P), 90 (P)
Attendance:-
40049
Referee:-
Mark Clattenburg – a wanker!
No sour grapes here.
Just a reminder to that wanker Clattenburg that these are the rules you
ignored when you refereed like a wanker!
Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows:
Direct
Free Kick
A
direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits
any
of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee
to
be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
•
kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
•
jumps at an opponent
•
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
A
direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player
commits
any of the following four offences:
•
holds an opponent
A
direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred.
Disciplinary
Sanctions
Sending-Off
Offences
A
player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the RED
card
if he commits any of the following seven offences:
1.
is guilty of serious foul play
2.
is guilty of violent conduct
Decisions
of the International F.A Board
Decision 4
A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must
be sanctioned
Cracking game; great crowd; open, attacking play from both sides with Liverpool lucky to grab two points away from Spurs; 2-2.
A sunny Sunday afternoon at
Anfield with a delicious game in prospect.
Two side really needing a win, both able to score, one side weak at the
back another coming off an atrocious midweek loss in Europe. Two managers under pressure for different
reason, Jol; his side in the bottom three; needing a good performance to
silence his critics, Benitez need to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s poor
showing.
Benitez keeps Torres up front
alongside Voronin; a midfield four of Mascherano, Gerrard, Pennant and Riise
provide a nice balance of bite and attack; Carragher anchors a back four with Hyypia,
Arbeloa and Finnan; notable absentees being Leto and Aurelio; Reina stays in
goal.
Jol started his strongest
attacking pairing, Keane and Berbatov up front; Tainio and Bale work the
midfield outside Zokora and Jenas; Robinson is protected by a back four of
Dawson, Kaboul with lee and Chimbonda on the flanks.
The early going is hesitant, both
sides getting the measure of their opposition; Pennant’s running on the right
allows him to find Riise with a back post cross which flies wide; Torres
combines with Gerrard who cushions a pass into the path of Voronin, Robinson
saves well; the midfield play is attacking and the open spaces are used well by
both teams; Liverpool are using the ball better but Tottenham aren’t giving in
without a fight.
A quick Riise throw in for Torres
to run onto is well marshaled by Kaboul; Tottenham’s long ball causes problems
all day, Keane gets beyond Carragher and almost brings the ball down but the
chance evaporates; the ball goes forward and Gerrard is manhandled by Jenas,
the home team get a free kick in a dangerous position, the Captain takes it,
the hard shot goes through a poor wall, Robinson can only parry and Voronin is
quicker to the ball than Keane for a poacher’s goal and a one nil lead.
Spurs get a second chance after
their first free kick is poorly delivered; Jenas whips it in at the near post
and Keane flicks it on, no Spurs player can get to the back post and the chance
goes behind; Jenas, Chimbonda and Keane combine, Liverpool half clear but Spurs
recycle the ball and Keane’s through ball into the area is met by Zokora but
Liverpool block the shot; the ball comes out to Gerrard who plays a long ball
for Torres, Kaboul beats the Spaniard to the ball but concedes a corner; Bale
comes inside with a mazy run and when Liverpool open up for him he displays his
one footedness, doesn’t take the shot and goes down looking for a foul; the
tempo is fast and the game is pretty open with chances coming at either end;
Gerrard dispossesses Lee too easily and Keane wounds Hyypia but shoots
over.
Torres and Riise work a nice one
two but the cross goes behind; the middle opens up for Torres with some soft
Spurs tackles, he fires wide, Voronin tries the same, running at Spurs and
falls over but is given a free kick which Gerrard fires against the foot of the
post; justice done.
Spurs are working the Liverpool
defence as well, Zokora finds Bale who lays it off to Keane, the Irishman’s
flick finds Berbatov who beats both Carragher and Reina and flicks the ball
goal wards, the shot lacks weight allowing Carragher to clear off the line;
Dawson finds Jenas who turns and shoots high; Mascherano starts a move, Voronin
works the ball to Arbeloa who finds his compatriot with a good cross; Robinson
smothers the shot; Gerrard put a ball up field for Torres, the striker lays it
invitingly for Voronin who doesn’t shoot; he lays the ball back to Gerrard who
shoots, the delay gave Spurs time to get back and Dawson blocks. Liverpool clear a Bale cross then Dawson does the same with
a useful pennant delivery.
Spurs start to believe and press
the home side; Jenas forcing Pennant into giving away a corner kick from about
forty yards out; Keane fashions a chance for Tainio but Hyypia is able to
block, the final flourish for the Spurs lets them go to the dressing room
level; a trademark Robinson long clearance is found by Berbatov who out jumps
his marker to head the ball on; Keane slips between Carragher and Finnan and
slots it beyond Reina.
Neither Jol not Benitez make any
changes at the half.
Liverpool are asleep for the
whistle and get caught out with another Robinson long clearance; Berbatov beats
Hyypia in the air and Keane is the quickest in the area, acrobatically burying
the knock on for a 2-1 lead.
That was a home crowd silencer!
The game is scrappy in the middle
but Zokora is a man with a mission, flinging himself for everything and winning
more often then not; Gerrard has gone; mostly; AWOL in the middle; Torres
attacks but Kaboul is able to clear; Pennant beats Lee but Dawson; gaining in
confidence; heads clear under pressure from Riise; Finnan picks up a lose Spurs
ball and attacks, he finds Pennant who crosses, Kaboul clears behind; then Pennant
is poorly offside onto a neat Voronin through ball; Bale does well to keep the
ball when pressured by Mascherano; he slots the ball inside to Keane who finds
plays the ball into a late arriving Jenas; nerves or something gets the better
of the England man and he fluffs the opportunity wide.
Voronin is all over the park for Liverpool; attacking and defending; mirroring the efforts
of Zokora.
Reina must come out of his area
to stop Berbatov getting in a cross when through onto a long ball; Torres gets
onto a long ball and Voronin is wayward with the shot; Spurs loose possession
in the middle and Torres comes forward but is pushed wide, he finds help in
Voronin who lays it off to a very late arriving Gerrard only for the England
man to skank his shot over.
Babel comes on for Arbeloa as
Benitez looks for the equalizer; Dawson gets an unfathomable yellow; Spurs look
unconvincing from a corner kick but clear their lines; Babel backs into Jenas
for a Liverpool free kick; Kuyt comes on for Pennant; Lee combines well with
Bale who runs inside at the Liverpool defence, they back off leaving Voronin to
come back and win the ball; Mascherano dives in the area but gets no card.
Things are hotting up, Spurs
haven’t gone into a 4 5 1 and tried to hold onto their lead; they keep at
Liverpool looking for the killer goal; Dawson is good at the back aided by
Kaboul; they are sitting back somewhat as when Bale find Berbatov with a
scrumptious cross field ball the Hungarian is totally isolated so decides a
shot is in order; Malbranque comes on for Tainio, a sign Spurs aren’t going to
merely defend their lead; Zokora gets beyond Voronin deep on the right but
slips before he can get his cross off; Finnan fires one at Robinson and there
England number one spills another ball; Dawson is quicker to it than Torres but
only by a whisker; Benayoun comes on for Voronin.
Liverpool frantically search for
the equalizer but the final ball or shot lacks the quality of a calm mind,
chances are grabbed at rather than stroked; Riise shots high when a pass would
have been better; Mascherano can’t beat Robinson at the near post from a Kuyt
cross; then the Argentinean fires wide from distance.
Chimbonda gets forward and finds
Bale, Reina is forced out of his area and is lucky to get a foul; Finnan isn’t
closed down on the right and delivers a back post cross; Dawson was drawn in a
touch and Torres had just drifted further out, they both go to the ball but the
young Spaniard’s movement and leap is better than Dawson’s and he buries the
equalizer.
Reina will be thankful for a
point; Liverpool looked good in the first half
and played some expansive passing football; Voronin eschewed a chance and they
had a couple more good opportunities, Gerrard’s free kick onto the post the
stand out. Some refs wouldn’t have given
the free kick for Liverpool’s first.
The defence was poor for both
goals and they were often overwhelmed in midfield; a single moment turned the
game rather than a concerted team effort.
Things don’t look too bright in L-987-987-987-987-987.
Jol looked unhappy at conceding
the late goal and dropping two points; Liverpool
could have gone two nil up in the first half but his team showed good spirit,
excellent tactics and sharp finishing to score either side of half time. Then instead of sitting back and trying to
absorb pressure; something this Spurs side aren’t suited to; they took the game
to Liverpool; mostly dominant in midfield during the second half they fashioned
some half chances and Jenas should have at least troubled Reina; the late goal
was scrappy defending and class from Torres, Dawson will learn.
Halsey mostly refereed well, but
he gave a few soft decisions to the home side; some referees wouldn’t have
given the first free kick; he booked Dawson for an ball winning challenge yet
didn’t book Mascherano for a dive in the Spurs area; Babel was ferociously
backing into Jenas yet won the free kick and Liverpool got a couple of soft
corners.
For a home game the Liverpool fans were consistently out voiced by the
vibrant traveling Spurs supporters.
Everton finish well and ride their luck with a good home win and a
clean sheet; ‘Boro poor in front of goal in a 2-0 defeat.
Goodison park on a Sunday, A
packed Glwadys Street
end, the ground mostly a seas of blue.
The language was fruity and the fans passionate, a win was needed to
restore the team’s direction in the League.
Traveling fans mostly didn’t but some made the arduous journey from the
North East.
Howard’s was back in goal after
injury; Hibbert and Baines operated at full back with Stubbs partnering Lescott
in the middle; Arteta was back in the side with Neville and Jagielka the
midfield muscle, Pienaar started again on the left; Yakubu and McFadden got the
start after good Carling Cup performances in midweek.
Facing his ex-player Southgate had Schwarzer
between the sticks with a back line of Young, Woodgate, Wheater and Taylor,
Downing and O’Neill worked the flanks with Rochemback and Boateng in the
middle, the Dutchman enforcing and the Brazilian creating; Mido partnered Lee
up front.
Jagielka gives the ball away but
Mido can’t take the opportunity; Arteta has a snapshot over the bar.
The start is fractured, neither
team getting a rhythm from the whistle; Hibbert crosses too close to Schwarzer then
Lee and Mido combine to play in a Boateng; his finish; with the goal at his
mercy; is woeful.
Everton take advantage of
Middlesbrough’s generosity; at the other end they win a corner and Arteta
delivers a blinder to the near post, Schwarzer fluffs it, Woodgate clears off
the line but only as far as Lescott, the defender heads down for his fourth of
the season and Everton’s opener.
Back at the home end O’Neill cut
inside Stubbs then shoots softly; allowing Howard to save, another terrible
finish.
During the rest of the first half
‘Boro have the better play, they pass the ball around better but are woeful in
front of goal and don’t do much to trouble the home side; Lee gets a free
header from six yards out after a nice team move and cross from Young, the
Korean find the crossbar.
Everton always look better when
they go forward despite not playing particularly well, Arteta is full of
running and ideas; he twice forced good saves from Schwarzer at the death;
Pienaar is finding his feet but Yakubu looks lazy; failing of make the most of
a great cross from Baines.
Moyes and Southgate saw no need to make any changes for
the second half.
The second half is never as good
as the first half; ‘Boro do play well and look for the equalizer from the
whistle; although both sides are somewhat scrappy; when the visitors finally do
get their act together they are hit; against the run of play; by a killer blow;
Pienaar starts a move from midfield, McFadden plays the South African in, a
cheeky back heel finds Arteta then the Spaniard return the favour with a
beautifully weighted pass which Pienaar slots home. It’s a slow game from then on in, the home side
is trying to see the game out and the frustration level of the visitors goes up
as their quality on the pitch goes down.
The home side played better
against Manchester United and lost; today they were relatively feeble but
finished enough of their chances to win; Moyes will not like the chances that
fell to the visitors but will like the clean sheet and the two goals, a win is
a win is a win is three points and fifth place.
The home manager must work on his record signing, he looks a little
short of zing!
Southgate won’t thank his players
for not getting three goals, the misses were bad and visibly wilted the team in
red, it’s fine to be the team that passes the ball around and works hard but
goals win games and ‘Boro couldn’t score.
Downing didn’t really get into the game.
Mike Riley was OK, seemed to
favour the away side in some of the decisions, but generally let the game
flow.
Villa look decent at home; helped by a poor Everton performance, two good Villa goals keep O’Neill smiling and Moyes frowning; 2-0.
The Holt End was packed for the 185th meeting of the two teams. A bright and sunny Sunday was to be dominated by the home side as they outplayed a rather poor Everton side; still reeling from a cack midweek UEFA Cup draw.
O’Neill went for a big back line, strength in the middle and speed on the flanks, with a big target up front. Carson; on loan from Liverpool kept goal; Mellberg, Laursen, Knight and Bouma sat in the back four; Agbonlahor and Young operated on the flanks, Reo-Coker and Barry sat in the middle with Moore and Carew up front.
Wessels started his second Premier League match; in front of him; Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott and Baines, a pretty solid back line with attacking gusto on the left; Neville sat in front of the back four alongside Jagielka; Osman and Pienaar occupied the flanks; Johnson; fresh from his mind numbingly awful performance in midweek; played up front with Anichebe.
Neville’s long throw forces a corner kick and in the ensuing melee only Knight’s face prevents Yobo’s fierce drive from testing Carson.
A Barry free kick at the other end is almost turned in by Laursen.
The first five minutes is frantic and fast, neither side is able to settle; when things calm down a touch the home side start to play their way into the game, they have better movement and passing than the visitors, the better football results in a vital early goal, Moore crosses from the left, and Pienaar’s clearance is too short, Agbonlahor puts it back in and a flustered and flummoxed Everton defence can’t stop Carew as he swivels and fits the back of the net.
Villa are better in possession but can’t prevent Everton’s attacks, Johnson almost finds the ball in from a free kick and his cross from the right after a good forward ball from Hibbert is cleaned up by Carson in front if Anichebe, the Nigerian waited for the ball instead of cutting across Carson for an easy tap in.
Barry is orchestrating the midfield and the pace on the flanks worries at Everton’s back line, Baines and Agbonlahor frequently tussle and Carew’s size mean he wins lots of ball in the air. Everton lack a quality final ball in and the solidity of Villa stifles the Blues.
The visitors lack confidence and the home side are full of it, it shines in every move, or doesn’t if you are Pienaar or Osman; even Wessels is affected as he fluffs a cross and is saved from embarrassment by Hibbert’s goal line clearance.
Moyes and O’Neill keep things the same for the start for he second half.
Everton start brighter; an early free kick is well taken by Johnson and well held by Carson; Anichebe can’t extend himself to get on the end of Jagielka’s back post cross.
The big Norwegian comes off with an injury to be replaced by Gardner, Agbonlahor goes up front and the sub slots into the middle, the fans are surprised by the move, so is Marlon.
Everton continue to be poor in the final third, a few bright spots do emerge, but no goals are to be had; Anichebe’s knock down for Johnson; the scuffed shot goes wide; is Everton’s best chance.
Villa look more dangerous when they have the ball and a ling ball up field from Carson catches the Everton back line out of position and sleeping, Agbonlahor’s first touch takes the pace of the ball and he calmly slots it under Wessels for Villa’s second; definitely a goal of the month contender.
Everton bring on McFadden and Yakubu but they don’t get much of a look in, the game becomes a touch more fractured as time draws near but Villa always look more likely to get a third than Everton are to get a first.
Everton were poor, Pienaar and Osman played like lightweights, Jagielka and Neville were ordinary, Johnson ran around but not much else, Anichebe is getting better but still lacks that killer goal scoring instinct that is vital at the top level; Baines will get better and looks good going forward or in defence, Yobo and Lescott were pretty solid but Hibbert is still prone to crucial mistakes, Wessels isn’t Howard. Moyes has had a bad week, next up Sheffield Wednesday. No Everton bookings will be one small consolation for the Scot.
O’Neill will be thrilled with a fine Villa performance, the set up he has is working although the loss of Carew will be a worry, but any defence will look good when they come up against an attack as impotent as Everton’s. He may have to have words with Agbonlahor and Harewood as well, they almost did handbags after the final whistle, and lip readers will laugh at what Agbonlahor was saying.
The referee did OK, not stellar but he didn’t blunder and tried to play advantage whenever he could. He missed Johnson getting manhandled by Knight but you can’t hold that against him.
Aston Villa FC:-
Carson
Mellberg
Laursen
Knight
Bouma
Agbonlahor
Reo-Coker
Barry
Young
Moore (Harewood 80)
Carew (Gardner 53)
Bookings:-
Agbonlahor
Goals:-
Carew 13
Agbonlahor 60
Everton:-
Wessels
Hibbert
Lescott
Yobo
Baines
Osman
Jagielka
Neville
Pienaar
Anichebe (Yakubu 69)
Johnson (McFadden 69)
