MIKEL ARTETA'S PLACE OF WORK

Goodison Park on a sunny Saturday.  The expected three points didn't come easy but the splendid performance of Phil Jagielka at both ends of the field gave the Blues the win.  A few times with the ball on the deck Everton looked good, mostly they looked out of sorts.  UEFA Cup is next on the agenda.  .  . 

 

Good support from both home and away supporters was in evidence but sporadic, the home fans allowed the tense feeling after two nil-nils to affect their noise.  No Sylvester Stallone; which was a real shame. 

 

Moyes opts for a 4 5 1 to start, injuries, AWOL players and lack of fitness hamper his selection.  Howard keeps goal, Neville moves to right back alongside the returning Yobo and Jagielka, Lescott moves to the left.  Carsley sits in front of the back four, Fernandes is the deepest of the five midfielders with Osman and Arteta wide and Cahill behind the lone John son. 

 

Coppell continues to plug away with his brand of football.  Hahnemann keep's goal with Shorey, Sonko, Cisse and Murty at the back.  Oster makes a return to Goodison with Harper and Matejovsky covering in front of the defence Hunt on the left and Doyle supporting the sole attacker, Kitson. 

 

Howard gets a chance to warm his hands after an early Hunt free kick gets a wicked deflection and almost creeps in.  Reading's next best chance come right at the end of the half with an Oster free kick having the bend to get over the wall but not to get under the bar. 

The first forty five was pretty poor from the home side, in no small part to a well managed and resolute Coppell side.  Both sides harry, hassled, hacked and herded each other with little opportunity to mount much attacking threat. 

Everton keep the ball, look before they pass and keep their heads and create the first neat pattern of play for the quiet crowd, Hahnemann is equal to the move but the opening was neatly crafted. 

Oster played well on his return, John son ran fruitlessly chasing poor passes and high balls, Hunt was integral to anything decent from Reading and Fernandes was wasteful with his passes.  The home side always seemed second to the loose ball, even when they won the tackle. 

Cahill has the best opportunities for the Blues, a late header crept over and a shanked effort well wide after some neat build up play and a good Osman turn, had his Portuguese midfield partner given the travel stained Aussie the shout the chance would have been much easier. 

Highlight of the first half though was all about Ireland.  Carsley let Hunt know he was there with a pretty nasty tackle.  Hunt stumbles and falls then bounces up with his International compatriot firmly in his crosshairs, one of his big defenders is quick enough of thinking to bearhug his fiery teammate before fists fly and cards are issued.  Storm in a teacup despite the commentary, two minutes later they shook hands. 

LADS! THE GOAL IS THAT WAY!

Moyes pulls of the ineffective Fernandes and moves to a 4 4 2 with the introduction of Vaughn.  Coppell keeps things the same.  Thoughts go to Joe Royle in the commentary box, "Second half is always better you know. Promise". 

 

Reading manages a quick shot to start the second half.  The Blue response takes a little while to build but is much more potent than in the tepid first half. 

Six minutes in Vaughn skins Sonko on the left and puts in a lovely ball that splits Hahnemann and his defenders, neither Cahill nor John son can connect though. 

Two players up front have given Everton a different dimension, the game is more open and the home side is staring to play and pass better. 

First one corner is headed over by Vaughn then a second is put wide by a defender as Everton pressure mounts. 

Arteta's next corner is cleared as far as Osman who intelligently plays the ball back in to the far post, Jagielka has beaten the offside and loops a header over the American 'keeper.

JAG RISES AND NODS HOME HIS FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL FOR THE BLUES!

The goal energized Everton; who are starting to win more balls and play more in the Reading half; Reading are deflated but still gallant battle on. 

Two Coppell changes redress the balance with Malian international Kebe coming close after a terrible Lescott mistake lets him attack Howard's goal.  Jagielka's last ditch block probably saves the three points. 

The entire back line was peppered late on, held well with Carsley filling in the holes. 

Two chances come in the final moments of the game, Harper gets onto a loose ball and a good shot takes the paint off the upright.  In front of the Gladwys Street End John son can't finish after rounding Hahnemann to open up Reading from a good Vaughn header on. 

 

Everton didn't play well and they still managed to get the points.  Jagielka was man of the match by a mile; although the entire back line played well.  Reading's stifling play didn't allow Everton much room to pass or play and they looked most dangerous on set pieces.  The three points is a welcome boon after two goalless draws and UEFA Cup progression against SK Brann is next on the agenda. 

 

Coppell's side played well without really threatening much.  They came for a point and looked good for it throughout the first half.  Managerially the goal was soft and the lack of much test for Howard is a worry.  Too good to go down, perhaps, seven losses on the bounce hasn't demoralized Reading though they have to pick up points and soon. 

 

Halsey was excellent, a few good advantages highlighted his intent and he didn't need to brandish any cards. 

A different referee may have given two penalties, although if one wasn't given it's unlikely the other one would be.

GOOD GAME! GOOD GAME!

Praise where praise is due.  Hopefully that will be noted in the other post match reports or interviews. 

 

Everton:-

Howard

Neville

Yobo

Jagielka

Lescott

Arteta

Carsley

Fernandes (Vaughn 46)

Cahill

Osman

John son

 

Bookings:-

 

Goals:-

Jagielka 61

 

 

Reading:-

Hahnemann

Shorey

Sonko

Cisse

Murty

Oster (Kebe 80)

Harper

Matejovsky

Doyle

Hunt

Kitson (Long 74)

 

Bookings:-

 

Goals:-

 

Attendance:-

36582

 

Referee:-

Mark Halsey

 

 

Images courtesy of Evertonfc.com

Images courtesy of BBC.co.uk