City 0 Everton 1 – Justice prevails at the last!

By • Dec 13th, 2008 • Category: Match Reports, News |

A great performance by Everton resulted in a well deserved win. After dominating the first half there was not as much to chose between the teams in a dogged second period. That was until Cahill rose to bag his third goal of the season and in turn send the travelling fans into ecstasy.

A wet, miserable, City of Manchester Stadium was the scene for what on paper seemed a brilliant affair. Two teams chasing European football with some superstars on show. The likes of Robinho, Wright Phillips, Cahill, and Neville!
An impressive Mark Halsey blew his whistle and a voicifeous away support urged their team on.

It only took five minutes for the first toffees attack. Leon Osman picking up the ball in a dangerous position and passing it towards goal from the edge of the area. It went wide, but was a warning sign of what was to come.

After nine minutes an even closer effort, this time by Mikel Arteta. The basque playmaker had a free kick from 20 yards out crash against the bar. The follow up was headed again against the cross bar by Fellaini. It seemed they were our main chances, gone! Was it just going to be one of those days?

And from the resulting City attack they came right back at Everton. Ireland making room for a shot that required a cool head. He blazed it over from 12 yards. Then again, this time Robinho for City, a good shot well saved by Howard. And again! Elano, a good shot, down Howard’s throat.

But Arteta brought the toffees back into it with a stinging drive from the edge of the area that Hart could only parry. But on the break, the Mancunians looked good. A Wright-Phillips drive smashing against the bar.

However Everton finished the half in the ascendancy with a Fellaini shot well tipped around the post by Joe Hart. From the resulting corner, Lescott’s flick on only managed to evade the goal, going inches over with both keeper and defenders stranded.

The second half began, and a City change was on the cards. Benjaini replaced by the equally ineffective Jo. If rumours are true, I really don’t want Moyes looking at the Brazilian. He was absolutely pathetic. (that’s putting it nicely!)

Everton picked up where they left off, creating chances, and on 58, Phil Neville’s cross was headed away by Zabaleta when Cahill looked certain to guide it in.

The second half seemed somewhat quiet in comparison to the first. City did have a half chance, Ireland’s tame shot being palmed wide by Howard.

A change by City ten minutes from time in attempt to brighten things up. The depressing Robinho replaced by Vassell.

But it was to be Everton who grabbed the winner. A long hoof up field was chased by Cahill, who forced Dunne to head towards Hart who couldn’t keep it from going for a corner. Osman then flighted the ball in and Cahill got above Micah Richards to send the sell out away end into raptures.(If any one had left early-shame on you! Being an Evertonian away end I don’t expect anyone did!)

After the corner flag boxing celebration a late City attack, snuffed out by the decent Castillo. A bit of pinball in the area resulted in the Ecuadorian sheperding the ball out of play for a goal kick. Flashes of last weekend passed across everyone in that away end’s mind!

It seemed like an eternity, but then the whistle was blown. A deserved win for the blues in a match they dominated. A class above City, and half the money spent. I don’t see the sacking of Hughes as an issue, give him time and money and they will challenge for the top four, just not this season.

A scramble in the box

A scramble in the box

Player Ratings:

Howard 8 – some good saves at vital times.

Neville 7 – a solid game, kept Robinho quite with the aid of the Brazilian’s ankle injury!

Yobo – 8 solid again.

Jagielka – 8 good to seem him back to his best after that blip last week.

Lescott – 8 got forward a lot, looked threatening.

Osman – 9 great and nifty. A class act, bagged an assist as well.

Pienaar – 8 some good touches and back to last season’s best.

Fellaini – 9 looking very very very very threatening. could have had a hat trick today if he had got that extra yard. A few balls just eluding him at the time when it mattered.

Castillo – 8 impressed by him, aided the back four admirably. Looked rather like a black Lee Carsley today!

Arteta – 9 could have had a brace, looking threatening coming from deep and really starting to rekindle his play maker abilities.

Cahill – 10 ran and ran and ran and ran and ran. Despite being deployed out of position he had a great game, tracking back getting into dangerous positions and bagging the winner.

The boys need to keep it up and perform next week against Chelsea. We hate playing at home but lets hope we can get a great christmas present courtesy of the blues and bag a second home win of the season.

COYB

by Max O’Collins



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