Lucky Three Points

Everton stole the three points by the skin of their teeth.

Rodwell returns to the team and for the first time, most of the regular defenders were occupying both the defence and midfield - Hibbo, Bainesy, Jag, Distin, Heitinga, Neville and Rodwell. The natural attacking midfielders were all on the bench. It's good to see that Anichebe is back after a long layoff. One other interesting thing is that Everton has no defenders on the bench.

Everton have been moving up the field but they somehow they seem to disintegrate in the final third of the field. Cahill had the opportunity to cross but somehow fluff it. Heitinga and Neville have been to easy to give the ball away as well.

Everton players looked totally static and non-predatory in the opposing half and have spent easily 95% of theor time in their own half, passing the ball around.

Saha had the chance to score in the 33rd minute but he seemed to be more interested to beat the ground to show his unhappiness after his misdirected shot than to really score.

Even when Everton has more of the possession, WBA still looked more dangerous on the break. Everton had another free header in the 39th minute but it went off target.

WBA has shown that they are capable of more serious attack than Everton and the Toffees needed Distin to tap the ball away when the opposing player when teeing himself up for the shot. Both teams entered the changing room with a stalemate, WBA 0-0 Everton.

I can just imagine Moyes's half time speech, " Ok guys, we have killed a half. We just need another half before we get the 1 point. In the 60th minute, I'll bring in Mucha to replace Saha because there's no defenders on the bench. Then we will play 6-4-0. I'll replace Cahill with Anichebe and play him as a defender as well." We have not scored in the first half for seven games now.


 Everton started the 2nd half with the same personnel. Everton nearly went a goal down straight from the start but the striker blasted it beyond the bar.
 
Magaye comes in for Rodwell in the 56th minute who though have been pretty ineffective was still better than some of those left on the field. This is the first time that I see Moyes bringing in the final two reserves at such early time. Anichebe and Strac coming in for Neville and Saha in the 63rd minute.
 
Finally, Everton forced WBA to make the first save in the 67th minute with a Magaye shot.
 
In the 87th minute, Hibbo puts in a lovely cross. Two WBA defenders failed to clear the ball, and Anichebe was quickest to the ball to hook it past the goalkeeper. WBA 0-1 Everton and that was the winning goal. Give Anichebe a Chang beer!
 
Score: WBA 0-1 Everton
Scorer: Anichebe
Assist: Nil
Subs: Magaye, Anichebe, Strac