Oop the East Lancs Road
for a jaunt to the Eastlands Stadium.
Cra ppy weather in Manchester (no change
there then really), and some pretty cra ppy football from Manchester City. Everton played very well and ran out fairly
comfortable two goal winners. Howard
gets tested late, Hibbo stifles Petrov, Elano is cr ap, Benjani is AWOL in the
second half and we have a red for the petulant Bulgarian. Stiles, well some quite good and some pretty
awful.
Short trip North East ensures a
good away turnout in Manchester. The weather didn’t douse the fans’ enthusiasm
or voices. Spark is added to the match
with Everton old boys Dunne and Ball playing for City and the stadium is a
regular haven for managers and ex managers.
Taking a pew are Big Sam, Peter Reid, Roy Keane, Steve Bruce and Fabio
Capello. On the pitch it’s a European
six pointer.
Moyes changes the side that
thrashed SK Brann and opts for a familiar 4 4 1 1. Howard keeps goal, Hibbert slots in at right
back, Yobo, Jagielka and Lescott operate to his left. Carsley and Neville sit deep with Pienaar
Osman and Cahill getting licenses to attack with Yakubu as the main forward. Some might call this 4 2 3 1 or 4 5 1 or 4 2
2 1, really just ignore them.
A SCOT AND A SWEDE WATCH THE BLUE ACTION AT EASTLANDS!
Hard to change a winning team so
Sven doesn’t. The Swede selects the same
eleven that beat Manchester United. Hart
keeps goal with a back four of Onuoha, Richards, Dunne and Ball, the five man
midfield is Petrov, Ireland, Fernandes, Hamman, Vassel
with Benjani up front on his own. A
pretty standard 4 5 1, although perhaps best suited to the away side.
City starts off on the front foot
and gets nowhere. All half they had
plenty of possession and did nothing with it, Howard had to come and punch or
claim a few balls but didn’t have to save.
Everton defended thirty yards out and a narrow City just kept mindlessly
bashing up against a blue wall.
City’s best cross came just
before the interval when Fernandes whipped a ball between Howard and the
defenders, Benjani spent too much time wondering what it was and the chance
went.
The visitors threatened Hart all
the first half, crisply bringing the ball out of defence or from a ball won in
midfield and going straight at City with pace and bags of ideas.
Richards probably didn’t give
Everton it’s first penalty of the Premier League season as Stiles was blind or
just unsighted.
Hart saves well from Yakubu at
the near post.
Pienaar hits the bar.
Finally the traveling fans get
their goal. Feed the Yak and he Will
Score!
A deep throw in down the right
comes infield to Yakubu, Cahill’s running off Hamman finds the diminutive Ozzie
in space, he beats the first man and whips a cross through the legs of the
second, Yakubu had continued his run and finishes with clarity and clamness
over Hart. Great move, super finish and
a well earned 0-1.
FEED THE YAK AND HE WILL SCORE - THAT'S SIXTEEN FOR THE SEASON SO FAR!
City’s response, Petrov; stifled
all night by Hibbert; blast one wide from twenty five yards.
Carsley is feeling up for the
game and starts an attack from his own half, he is fouled by Hamman on the edge
of the area and Stiles is just poor.
Everton keep cutting through the
City midfield and back line and win a corner, it goes way too long and the
Irishman is a willing runner. Carsley
looks up and lobs a ball to wards the back post, Dunne and Hart are ball
watching as Lescott adds to his excellent tally for the season with a neatly
finished looping header back over Hart and into the far corner. Sloppy defending seals the game.
GOAL SCORER AND GOAL PROVIDER CELEBRATE THE FORMER WOLVES DEFENDER'S EIGHGTH OF THE SEASON!
Eriksson removes Hamman; well
played by Cahill; and opts for the more fluid attacking verve of the Brazilian,
Elano. Moyes keeps his side the same,
just asks them to sit a little and take the pace out of the game.
Ball’s challenge prevents Cahill
from giving Everton and early 0-3 lead after good work with Yakubu off a throw
in.
City mount some pressure but
continue to be easy to defend, they lack width, Elano and Petrov aren’t
delivering good balls into the area, Benjani is barely a threat and the
substitutions don’t really change much.
It’s only in the final ten minutes when City start to try playground
football that Howard actually has some saves to make.
Mexican Castillo gets onto a
loose ball and fires through a crowd, Howard gets down well and Jagielka
clears.
Petrov fires one straight at
Howard, meat and drink.
A cross sees Howard punch the
ball against Benjani, Jagielka clears the loose ball.
Other than one Dunne chance; off
a dodgy free kick decision that Petrov delivered well; City were pretty dire
really.
Everton continued to threaten and
defend extremely well, Jagielka being outstanding alongside Yobo.
Pienaar is replaced by Fernandes
who is in turn replaced by JJohn son, perhaps worrying Moyes in terms of
upcoming games with Carsley suspended after a fifth Yellow.
JJohn son and the Yak had half
chances but Everton’s best second half chance fell to Carsley, the midfielder
took advantage of Stiles’ play on call and walloped the ball goalwards before
City had even organized a wall, Hart was equal to the shot and parried it
over.
Petrov’s petulance lands him in
hot water at the end of the match, an odd whistle from Stiles; although play
still goes on; see Yakubu run away from the Bulgarian who aims a kick at the
Nigerian. Nothing is given for that one. Almost at the end of the game Petrov looses
out to Osman and tries to play some footsie with the back of Osman’s calf.
Stiles thinks, “EH! I CAN GET IN THE HEADLINES TOMORROW LETS GIVE HIM A
STRAIGHT RED!” and dishes out an automatic three match ban. Even I thought it a bit harsh and I support
Everton.
PETROV TAKES AN EARLY BATH!
Everton outplayed and out thought
City in every department tonight. Bloody
brilliant performance from a team full of beans (‘swagger’ as Tim Sherwood
describes it). Threatening goals all
game and solid at the back, it could have been three or four nil instead of just
two nil. Many this season have talked
about how the team is pretty ‘workmanlike’ without Arteta. No Arteta tonight and hardly workmanlike!
Beating Manchester United was a
bit flukey and it showed. City tried
exactly the same stuff that didn’t work at Goodison and got beat. Substitutions didn’t work and moving from a 4
5 1 through to something resembling a 1 1 8 in the final minutes they still
barely troubled the visitors. Pretty
poor in all areas of the pitch. What can
be done to stop this malaise at home?
Stiles, headline grabbing
arse! He can play a good advantage
sometimes! How can the man who has given
more penalties than any other Premier League referee not point to the spot at
least once tonight? Burley slaughtered
him and I pretty much agree with most of what the Scot said. Still at the end of the day even cra ppy
refereeing couldn’t deny a thoroughly enjoyable win.
Goodison Park, top six clash, Everton hosting Manchester City.
Certainly the biggest game of the day.
The two sides have aspirations and a first meeting between the two teams
will ascertain whether those aspirations will be met.
Certainly a game of two halves, Everton dominated the first and scored,
City dominated the second but Howard’s first save came in extra time. The second half was a consummate display of
defending.
Buzzing and vibrant on Liverpool,
the short trip down the East Lancs road meant
plenty of away support as a counterpoint to the expectant and vociferous home
crowd. The atmosphere was loud and pure
football.
Moyes; bereft of three key
players to the African Cup of Nations goes with a 4 4 1 1. Howard keeps goals with Hibbert works the
right with Lescott and Jagielka in the centre back Valente gets the nod on the
left. Carsley sits in front of the back
four with Neville, McFadden and Arteta providing a fair amount of class and
bite. Anichebe gets the nod up front
whilst Cahill operates behind him
COYB!
The less orthodox 4 3 3 is the
choice of England’s
ex-Swede. Eriksson keeps faith with the
youngster Hart in goal, behind a back four with the pace of Onuoha and Richards
and two ex Blues Dunne and Ball.
Corluka, Hamman and Elano form a midfield trio with Vassell and Petrov
wide and Castillo through the middle, certainly no lack of skill but not the
tallest front line. .
SWEDISH SIGN LANGUAGE
Even and bright; as befits two
teams with barely any points between them.
The early going sees half chances for Anichebe and McFadden whilst
Vassell gets a sniff for City.
The early going is tight for both
teams with chances at a premium, Everton edge the play and possession with some
neat passing.
The battles on the pitch are
developing nicely, Richards and Anichebe, Petrov and Hibbert with Carsley
taking on everybody.
YOUNG GUNS! WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!
The first chance comes to the
home side and Cahill blazes over from close range when a cool tap in would have
been a much better choice, Hibbert and Anichebe showed well to set up the
opportunity and Hart and Richards did well to stop the first two chances from
being taken.
Everton are using the whole width
of Goodison, Arteta is key with his ability to hold up the ball and find
teammates.
The dead ball delivery of the
Spaniard provides the breakthrough, a good corner is cleared out to Neville who
plays it intelligently back to Arteta, the ball is fizzed into the six yard box
and Lescott holds his position to stab the ball past Hart, the defence was poor
but the score is one – nil.
TWO DEFENDERS A 'KEEPER AND THE WINNING GOAL
Howard gets his first sniff of a
save when an Elano free kick takes a deflection of the wall and loops onto the
top netting.
Everton are content to let City
play in front of them and always look the most likely to score, although an
effort from Neville is an easy save for Hart.
Manchester City
builds some pressure before the break, the effort from Corluka flies well wide
and high.
Neither manager makes half time
changes. Eriksson’s team talk certainly
lights a fire under the collective arses of the visitors.
City come out strong in the
second half, Everton can barely keep possession and the bulk of the play is in
their own defensive third. For fifteen
minutes questions are asked of the home side with City playing with much more
fire and vim. Howard is still largely a
spectator. Carsley is everywhere;
seemingly.
Eriksson tries a double
substitution to break Everton down, Castillo; largely ineffective; and Hamman;
tiring; are brought off for The zip of Fernandes and the attacking intent of
Bianchi. Nothing much changes, Everton
are pressured but comfortable.
Howard remains largely a
spectator.
The introduction of Vaughn for
McFadden around the hour mark shows another aspect of the Everton defensive
strategy; hassle the opponents defensive unit.
The game is still largely City but Everton get more and more into it and things
kind of even themselves out for the last twenty.
Cahill gets a chance but heads
wide of a corner kick as Everton get back into the game.
Vaughn is a terrier, chasing
everything and not allowing the City back four time to play anything of quality
forward.
Anichebe and Petrov try some
handbags.
BULGARIA V NIGERIA - HANDBAGS AT THE READY LADIES!
Cahill has another chance but
heads wide.
Hibbert blocks Petrov,
again.
The pressure builds as City
frantically look for something from the game.
Petrov gets free in the area but his shot is well held by Howard. The American is just as secure when a last
ditch Bianchi header loops into his arms.
Everton had to make do with their
team selection today, injuries and ACoN absentees gave chances to squad
players. The entire team responded
magnificently. The entire back four was
outstanding; keeping the pressure off Howard for more than ninety minutes. As a team they held up well under incessant Manchester City pressure. Going forward they were a tad lightweight but
always looked more likely to score and forced saves from Hart. It certainly wasn’t the prettiest but a
brilliant performance nonetheless, more so when you look at what Manchester City’s new imports have been able to do
to other teams. The trip up the East Lancs road towards the end of the season is a much
anticipated game.
Eriksson showed his managerial
skill with and incisive half time team talk but his players couldn’t
deliver. Although they defended well
they couldn’t break down a resolute Everton back four. He will be worried that the first save Howard
made was in extra time. Castillo looked
lost but showed a few brief touches of his Copa form and the inability of Elano
and Petrov to cause damage was a testament to the home defence.
Halsey had an inconsistent
game. His advantages weren’t great and
he let Carsley get away with a horrible one on Corluka. I just wonder if referees feel they shouldn’t
make a decision that the crowd howls for.
OWH! C'MON REF, I HARDLY TOUCHED HIM!
Gordon McQueen is a tough
sell. The Scottish inspired team and the
wonderful defensive display earned his grudging respect as the final whistle
blew.
Plenty of possession can’t hide Manchester
United’s striking woes; Manchester City put up a stubborn defence and grab a winner, 1-0
at the City of Manchester Stadium.
This Manchester
derby was different, two wins and a chance to top the fledgling Premier League
table saw a packed house with vociferous support from both the red and blue
halves of Manchester,
an overcast August day made conditions ideal for football.
Eriksson made some changes as he
tries to integrate all the new signings he’s made over the summer, Bianchi was
replaced up front by Bojinov, Elano was alongside; a midfield of Geovanni,
Johnson, Hamann and Petrov provided a touch of steel and a touch of guile, a
back four saw, Corluka and Garrido on the flanks with Richards and Dunne as centre
backs, son of Schmeichel remained the stand in for the injured Isaksson.
An injury hit United saw van den
Sar in goal, Brown, Ferdinand,, Vidic and Evra provided the back four, Nani
started on the left with Giggs occupying the right, Hargreaves and Carrick
occupied the midfield, one to sit the other to go forward, Scholes and Tevez
made up the front two with the expectation that the Englishman would be playing
behind the Argentinean.
The opening few moments were a
cagey affair, United started well, easily keeping the ball with fluid passing
and crisp delivery, they seemed concerned with possession more than attack. Brown fouls Petrov on the left as City gained
some rare possession.
Nani makes space on the left but
looses possession. When the opening
appears United pounce; Tevez finds Scholes on the edge of the area, the ball is
played into the path of Nani, he goes near post allowing Schmeichel to parry
the ball away, poor choice of shots for the Portuguese winger.
Tevez wins a corner kick off a
Scholes through ball but City clear their lines; Brown goes forward on the
right, City clear; Scholes finds only the ‘keeper with his through ball.
Bojinov is brought off for Mpenza,
his knee injured after an awkward landing.
Corluka and Geovanni combine on
the left, United clear easily and retain possession; Tevez works the ball with
Nani on the United left and finds Carrick with a deep ball, he looses
possession and City clear; Nani fires in a promising cross which goes behind
for a goal kick.
On the left Petrov makes a
touchline run, he dives as Brown challenges for the ball and earns the England man a
talking to; Richards delivers a ball forward into no one.
Giggs cuts inside and plays in
Scholes, Nani receives the ball but takes one touch before he shoots and is
closed down, he should have hit the ball first time; a beautifully crafted,
flowing, passing move covering both flanks and several United players comes to
nothing.
Scholes is sitting deeper in a
five man midfield and City are just sitting back, they can’t get more than a
sniff of the ball in the early going.
Scholes plays in Giggs who drops
a ball to Tevez and runs into space on the left, the Argentinean doesn’t see
the Welshman’s runs and gives the ball away, Giggs is furious; he does better
when running onto a through ball, his pace takes him past Dunne but Richards
times his tackle to perfection and takes the ball away for City to clear. Nani, creating lots of trouble on the left;
gets the ball from Scholes and wins a corner off Corluka, the first delivery is
cleared behind at the far post and the second is played short to Giggs to
Hargreaves who delivers an angled ball in, Scholes' header is too soft to take
advantage of the flailing Dane but City clear their lines and get the ball out
to Petrov who promptly wastes possession.
Nani and Evra work the left flank
and a delightful back heel from Nani puts Evra through on goal, a last minute
tackle as Evra is pulling the trigger forces the shot to be shanked
behind.
Hamann gets a foot on the ball
and passes to Mpenza, the Belgian is robbed by Carrick and United surge
forward, Tevez gets the ball but is pushed wide by Richards; retaining
possession United switch flanks, Evra and Nani combining to win a corner, City
clear the area and hand United back the ball, Scholes finds space on the edge
of the area after drifting around Hamann but he takes one too many touches and
is closed down.
City have their first shot when
Johnson fires high from 35 yards out.
Geovanni drifts past his marker
but has his run baulked, Richards flings himself at the ball to keep it in play
and City retain possession, they work the ball back in the centre; through
Hamann; back to Geovanni and he takes a shot as Ferdinand back off him, a
wicked deflection of the defender takes the ball past a diving van den Sar
inside his left hand post for a shock City opener.
Brown gets space and time on the
right but decides to foul his marker for a yellow card.
Evra works the ball inside to
Nani and it finds Scholes who gets a pass off to Tevez, the striker drops a
ball back out to Hargreaves who delivers a poor cross behind for a goal
kick.
City enjoy a brief spell of
possession; Hamann, Petrov, Garrido, Elano and finally Mpenza combine in a
fluid and resilient passing move which sees the Belgian’s shot blocked and
Tevez break up field only for Dunne to clear.
Corluka works the ball to Elano
but the flat cross is gathered up by van den Sar.
Giggs get on the end of a Nani
cross and stabs the ball goal bound, Schmeichel parries it, Richards clears it
as Scholes looks on in befuddlement.
Hamann is starting to get into
the game, he tracks Scholes and limits the influence of the United midfielder
and disrupts the United rhythm as well as steadying City.
Petrov gets the ball again on the
left and this time is fouled by Nani.
Brown combine with Nani on the
right flank but the play is snuffed out by Schmeichel’s smart pick up; Tevez
delivers a ball for Carrick which is too narrow; Scholes, Carrick and Evra
combine to fee the ball to Giggs, Corluka wins the ball and clears for City;
Dunne clears the next Giggs ball in for a corner, Evra uses his skills to find
space in the area and fires a pass to Nani but the shot is wide from 25 yards
out; Ferdinand gets forward and works the ball with Brown and Nani, Carrick
looses the ball and ends the promising move.
Both managers keep the sides the
same.
Hamann and Scholes continue their
tussle and the German gets the better of the Englishman with a free kick.
Garrido concedes a corner after
tracking back a long Nani run. The pacy
ball in is met well by Vidic but crashes against the bar; Schmeichel didn’t
clear his lines at all and merely flailed his arms at the shot, grateful for
the woodwork saving his bacon; Scholes fires the rebound wide from close in;
inexplicably.
Petrov gets to show his skills
with a great ball delivered into the heart of the United area from the right,
United manage to clear.
Dunne clears up an attack
involving Giggs, Tevez and Nani down the right; Tevez wins a corner off Dunne
and City clear; Tevez plays in a central Scholes who can’t find Giggs with his
pass to the flank; Hargreaves and Scholes combine to play in Nani City hold
firm and United retain possession, they come at their neighbors again with
Vidic, he delivers a great ball in for Giggs, the winger delivers the ball into
the box for two of his team mates, but Dunne’s reading of the situation was
lightning quick and he clears the ball between two red shirts.
Hamann gets a yellow for a cynical
trip on Giggs; Corluka gets a yellow soon after.
Carrick cuts through the middle
and flashes the ball wide to Nani, with space to work the winger can only send
a ball high and behind the three United players at the far post; Carrick works
the ball to Scholes, he play in Hargreaves, Brown gets the next ball and feeds
Nani and again Richards clears.
Giggs feeds Tevez on the edge of
the area, a neat back heel finds Scholes but his #### is poor, high and
wide.
Nani must be tired, he is taken
off for Eagles and was by far the most threatening of the United front
players.
Tevez finds Scholes who play in
Giggs out wide on the left, a signature Giggs ball is played in but Scholes and
Eagles can’t get the touch that would give them a goal and the ball goes
behind.
City continue to defend and
struggle to get any meaningful possession going forward.
Schmeichel claims a cross in from
Nani; just like his dad.
City bring out Elano; largely
superfluous and bring in Bianchi to act as the lone front man.
Giggs; having freedom to roam;
runs at City through the middle, he flashes a pass out to Eagles on the right
flank he continues to run in but the cross is put behind for a corner, Hamann
clears up field to Petrov and the Bulgarian holds the ball up then plays in the
German, Hamann finds Geovanni a poor touch allows Evra to clear.
Scholes puts in Hargreaves who
sees a shot blocked, the ball comes out for Tevez and he then has a shot
blocked.
Hargreaves needlessly fouls
Geovanni and City get a free kick 28 yards out.
The Brazilian gets the ball over the wall but it’s too soft to trouble van
den Sar.
Carrick works the ball to Giggs
then sends the return pass to Eagles whose early ball in is cleared for a
corner; Dunne clears the subsequent ball in despite the big three coming
forward again.
Ferdinand and Bianchi play
handbags in the byline and the referee is imminently sensible.
Carrick feeds Scholes who
delivers a great chip forward but Tevez is offside.
Hamann plays in Geovanni who
feeds Petrov who delivers a long ball to Mpenza, his cross is cleared and
United come away with the ball, it goes long to Eagles but Schmeichel is
quickly off his line to smother the ball.
Corluka holds up Giggs but the
winger recovers to deliver a cross which goes wide. United try to change things up with the
inclusion of O’Shea; in at right back and Campbell
on as a striker; Brown and Carrick come off.
Ball and Geovanni combine briefly
before the Brazilian loses the ball.
Campbell gets one wide to Giggs but the return
ball in is cleared by Richards, Tevez gets it and sees his shot go wide.
City are slowing up and showing
definite signs of tiring.
Carrick and Mpenza clash and the
balls pops loose, Corluka sees an opportunity and drives one in from range just
over van der Sar’s crossbar.
Hargreaves, Evra and Giggs
combine in right only to get a goal kick decision.
Mpenza gets onto a long ball on
the right and fires in a cross for Bianchi, Ferdinand steps in and clears;
Mpenza fouls Evra giving United a free kick in a dangerous area, City clear
their lines without the help of a flailing Schmeichel.
Giggs puts in an early ball for
Tevez which simply has too much pace for the Argentinean; Hargreaves wins the
ball from a dithering Petrov and launches United forward but Tevez is held up
by Hamann and Corluka; Evra feeds a ball to Eagles on the flank the cross comes
in and is cleared by Dunne; Tevez fires the clearance wide.
Petrov makes some time and space
and gets the ball out to Mpenza; he cuts inside and fires over from a tight
angle.
Evra puts in a ball which City
clear behind, Schmeichel flaps as the ball sails past him and a surprised Tevez
can only head wide from two yards out at the near post with the goal gaping and
open; van den Sar joins in the attack as United have a corner kick from Giggs’
deflected cross, Dunne clears.
Ferdinand gets a yellow for
gobbing off and Dunne clears the ball out from United’s final attack.
Grabbing a goal against the run
of play and holding off your local rivals for 90 minutes will please the Swede,
an Injury to Bojinov will cause concern but overall the endeavour of the
players was excellent, particularly Dunne and Richards who kept their heads and
handled everything that was thrown at them; Schmeichel showed his inexperience
but came up with a couple of key saves their wasn’t much to shout about going
forward but Hamann was good and the team was focused on defence. Tonight
City sit atop the Premier
League.
United are playing like Arsenal,
plenty of lovely possession and passing and movement but very little in the way
of an end product. Ferguson even had to use a young untried
striker in order to create something.
Dominance of possession and nothing to show for it will probably mean
some new hairdryers at Old Trafford. For
a team not to pepper the opposition goal when a ‘keeper has shown he’s
vulnerable is awful, Rooney and co. are so well needed. A pretty terrible start to the season; two
points from three games.
Clattenburg had another excellent
game, he kept things flowing, made correct; mostly; decisions and used common
sense when things went askew. If he keep
on like this he’ll be going deep into a Cup competition.
