Cardiff City vs Everton

, 30 August, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent
Match Preview

Everton's quest for a first Premier League win of the season moves to South Wales and a top-flight clash with Cardiff City for the first time in 52 years. Billy Bingham was on the scoresheet the last time the Blues faced the Bluebirds in the league in the 1961/62 season but it's recent form against their rivals Swansea that Roberto Martinez will be hoping can carry through from the David Moyes era.

Everton have come away with two victories from two visits to this corner of the country in recent seasons and Martinez would like nothing more than to build on Wednesday's tight extra-time victory over Stevenage and grab his first three points since assuming the Goodison hotseat.

Though he made eight changes to his starting XI for the Carling Cup tie, the players who took the field faithfully executed the patient passing game that Martinez has implemented so quickly but with it came the same lack of cutting edge in the final third that has cost his side victory at Norwich and against West Bromwich Albion so far.

Psychologically, as well as that hurdle to clear, the goal-shy Blues have to contend with the ongoing speculation about the futures of Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines which has been rumbling away since the eve of the season as well as the fact that their hosts this weekend are riding the crest of a wave of optimism following their handsome win over Manchester City.

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Malky Mackay's men came back from a goal down to lead 3-1 against the Manuel Pellegrini's expensively-assembled wannabe Champions and held on to win 3-2 after City scored late on. That self-belief will do wonders for the newly-promoted club and pose a problem for Everton who have yet to really hit their stride under the new regime.

The first-team regulars who watched from the bench or the stands in midweek — Seamus Coleman, Sylvain Distin, Tim Howard, Kevin Mirallas and Steven Pienaar, for example — will likely return to the starting line-up this weekend and Evertonians will be hoping to see Fellaini and Baines on the teamsheet as well. Darron Gibson has resumed full training but probably won't be risked after recovering from a knee injury.

It's up front where the question mark remains. A slight knock kept Victor Anichebe out of contention against Stevenage but he should be fit, though lacking in match sharpness having not started any of the Blues' games so far.

Arouna Kone is, by his manager's admission, also lacking fitness, his rustiness on display for all 22,000+ of those in attendance at Goodison on Wednesday evening so he may have to be content with starting on the substitute's bench.

That leaves Nikica Jelavic who looked lively and hungry in the first two games but his goal drought has extended into the new campaign thanks to a lack of regular service in the penalty area. The Croatian is the more likely of the three to start but both Anichebe and Kone will be itching for action from the bench should he not make sufficient impact.

Though this one looks a little less inviting than it did before last weekend, Cardiff are still a weaker team than Everton and if the Blues can get their attacking machine functioning to its best ability — much will depend on Mirallas who was well below par against West Brom — then that first win is certainly on the cards. The longer we go without it, of course, the more restless the natives will become.

Kick off: 3pm
Referee: Anthony Taylor

 



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