Traveling support loud and proud as the Blues win away from home in Europe again.  Less than brilliant but professional and mostly solid. 

 

Brann Stadion in chilly; hovering around the freezing mark; Bergen Norway had a hostile and vocal atmosphere for such a small stadium.  Everton's traveling fans were mostly drowned out by the whistles, boos and cheers of the home support.  Great atmosphere for a European night. 

 

"DEATH IS MY BUSINES...AND BUSINESS IS GOOD!"  PROFOUND THOUGHTS FROM A VENERATED MEMBER OF THE UNDERTAKING PROFESSION AND THRASH METAL FREAK!

Moyes; without his full squad to pick from; went 4 4 2.  Yakubu; naughty, punished and forgiven; played up front alongside John son.  An unfamiliar look to the midfield with Osman and Fernandes wide with Cahill and Carsley in the centre.  Jagielka continued in the centre of defence alongside Yobo with Neville and Lescott operating as fullbacks.  Howard keeps goal. 

 

ONE FOR MUM!

A squad full of internationals; unbeaten in nineteen at home and current Norwegian Champions went with an attacking 4 4 2.  Mjelde keeps Norwegian number one Opdal in goal with a back four of Dahl, Bjarnason, Sigurdson and Hanstveit.  Moen operated on the left with Bakke, El-Fakiri and Solli inside him.  Up front Helstad is a threat alongside Karadas. 

 

Everton have an early chance for Yak but his shot is weak.  Carsley is called into action at the other end. 

Brann aren't shy to come forward and drop 6 men back when Everton come forward. 

A lack of natural width forces Everton through the middle where Brann are strong. 

Yakubu and John son don't really work together they are just both up front. 

A discombobulated midfield can't get many good balls forward and shows sloppiness in possession. 

Jagielka is a rock at the back bar one fluff with Lescott (similar to the howlers against Arsenal); thankfully Helstad is a bit rusty and doesn't take a shot. 

The Brann corner kick is an excellent weapon; crowd the six yard area and hamper the goalkeeper; almost worked in the last minute of the half but for a Bakke arm across Howard; those almost always get given. 

Osman provides the goalmouth entertainment he only brought a fine save from Opdal on his third try. 

Brann could have been ahead, Karadas' header flashed over from a wonderfully flighted free kick.  Moen was the bright spot for the home side; always good deliveries.  Brann had more possession but lacked alacrity in attack, particularly Karadas; Helstad would have been more assured in front of goal mid season. 

 

No changes at the half, surely DM made a few choice remarks at half time though. 

 

Everton start off the second as they did in the first half.  Some decent play and possession.  Cahill came close with a good run and shot which may or may not have been touched onto the post by Opdal. 

The visitors kept playing hard without really threatening when the breakthrough fell their way.  A robust Cahill tackle on the left didn't interest the referee, he pokes the ball to John son who gets forward, he is pushed wide but manages a decent cross; Dahl's clearing header only finds the venomous right boot of Osman who send the ball rocketing back beyond the defenders and Opdal.

OSSIE DOES HIS JIMBO IMPRESSION!

Brann don't give up.  They work hard and push Everton back. 

The home side's corner kicks still cause problems and Howard has to be alert to gather Helstad's header; Neville had closed his eyes or something at the back post and left his man free. 

Some of the Blue defending is sloppy but Jagielka seems to be in the right place to stick out a foot or win the ball.  Substitutions with twenty odd minutes to go energize Brann; a Gambian international tests Howard when the defence fails to close him down and the winger adds something. 

Everton start to work the ball a bit more and apply a professionalism to the game to kill it off; this doesn't involve flopping all over the place as they do in Italy. 

A late Brann charge has Everton sitting deep and keeping almost everyone back. 

Lescott breaks with a galloping and most unorthodox style down the left, he looks up and shows that he has practiced his crosses with a superb delivery that finds Anichebe at the back post, a cool finish over the 'keeper seals the win and probably the tie.  Was it offside?  Possibly, I've seen those flagged back before now, but the Bulgarian official kept his flag down. 

VICTOR FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH!

 

TIM, CAN YOU JUST F..U..C..K.. OFF, WE'RE HAVING A "GOAL SCORING" MOMENT!

Carsley and others did the brave, mad or ambivalent thing with shirtsleeves.  Everton won albeit with two decisions which on another day they might not have gotten.  Professional away win; which has become their stamp in Europe this season.  Winning when you don't play all that well is a bonus and kind of makes up for some of the losses when we've actually played better and lost.  Surely this a ticket to the last sixteen and probably a trip to Italy or maybe a return trip to Norway. 

 

Hey! Yes You! The Idiots Who Inavded The Pitch At The Final Whistle.  I Know You Are Excited But Your Stupidity Could Result In Everton Being Censured By UEFA!

Mjelde can take a lot from this game.  His side stood up and attacked well, defended well but showed too much rustiness to score.  They played better in the first half than the second but couldn't put away the chances they had.  They will enjoy a trip to Liverpool in the next leg but only a home disaster or an away miracle can give them the win. 

 

The Bulgarian referee allowed the game to flow, some robust challenges were let go before Cahill won the ball.  That seemed in character with the rest of the game.  Could the linesman have given offside, well yes he could, he didn't and the second goal stands. 

 

 

Everton:-

Howard

Neville

Yobo

Jagielka

Lescott

Osman

Cahill

Carsley

Fernandes (Hibbert 89)

John son (Anichebe 76)

Yakubu (Baines 90)

 

Bookings:-

Fernandes

 

Goals:-

Osman 59

Anichebe 88

 

 

Sportsklubben Brann:-

Opdal

Dahl (Thwaite 89)

Bjarnason

Sigurdson

Hanstveit

Solli

Bakke

El-Fakri (Huseklepp 75)

Moen

Helstad

Karadas (Demba-Nyren 69)

 

Bookings:-

 

Goals:-

 

Attendance:-

16207

 

Referee:-

Anton Genov (BUL)

 

Pictures courtesy of evertonfc.com

Pictures courtesy of bbc.co.uk