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Match Summary A great sigh of relief was heard from all Evertonians at the news that Richard Wright was back in goal for the Blues, with Paul Gerrard on the bench. David Weir is back from suspension and wearing the captain's armband; Gravesen is only on the bench, as is Yobo, dropped after making a key error last Sunday... Brian McBride gets his home debut, with Radzinski his partner up-front; Campbell only makes the bench, but Wayne Rooney — who signed his new contract last night — is still suspended. Stubbs should have scored in the first minute, a nice ball coming in from a Naysmith corner but he headed over the bar. Five minutes later, an almost identical scenario, Stubbs heads just wide. Stubbs got another opportunity from a free kick on the edge of the Sunderland area but he drilled it into the wall and Everton got another corner. Four corners in the first 8 minutes, signs of good Everton pressure, but no goals. But Sunderland then showed signs of life, Thornton drilling one in at Wright, who had it well covered. Another Everton attack saw Pistone launch in an excellent cross that McBride got on the end of, but Sorensen saved well. Pistone then beat his man again and swung another great cross in but Sunderland defended it. A brilliant move got the ball out to Pistone who sent in another brilliant corner and it was Steve Watson who got in a tremendous flying header and hit the post! Are we ever going to score in this one??? After all the pressure, the inevitable happened, when Sunderland scored with Phillips setting up Kilbane who beat Watson to drill it past Wright. The goal took the wind out of Everton, who started to falter, and Philips had another pop as the first half drew to a close, Wright forced to make a fantastic save to keep the damage at one. Li Tie had looked well out of it in the first half, David Moyes taking him off and bringing on Tommy Gravesen. But Sunderland were at it again, winning an early corner that Wright could only punch away but another superb save was required from Wright to keep out the Black Cats. A great move then saw Gemmill escape down the right, and get the ball in to Brian McBride, whose overhead kick was luckily defected in and Everton were thankfully level. Radzinski then missed a total open goal, the ball going off the outside of his boot and screwing wide of the post. Another great chance with Gemmill the creator, and the ball being cleared dramatically off the line form Unsworth — and it looked a lot like hand-ball. Watson and Radzinski combined well with Radz's shot then blocked amazingly by Craddock. And more superb pressure saw McBride finally get a second within six minutes, controlling the ball well and firing in to the bottom corner. Everton then played out the rest of the half in a reasonable degree of control over the pesky Black Pussies, without really consolidating the clear superiority they had. The half was not without the odd scare either, McCann laying on a good opportunity for Williams, needing another good save from Wright.
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Match Facts | |||||
Everton (4-4-2) Blue shirts, white shirts, blue socks |
Sunderland
(4-4-2) Red & white shirts, black shorts, red socks |
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