Match Summary
A wet Tuesday night in North Wales meant a slow start for Everton as Wrexham came raring out of the starting gates at the Racecourse, determined to get at least a short head in front of Everton by the first furlong marker.
David Moyes retained Yobo in the backline but Weir was rested (?) in favour of Li Wei Feng, with Gemmill and Naysmith making their first appearances of the season in midfield.
Gemmill hit the bar with a great header before Hibbert was rather harshly booked for a foul after 15 mins, and it was nearer the 20-minute mark before Everton started to canter with any real purpose. And on 25 mins Super Kevin Campbell was off to the races, getting one-on-one with the goalie after a nice layoff from Li Tie and lofting his shot over Whitfield into the back of the net. GOAL!
Naysmith then missed a glorious opportunity as Everton really got into their stride. More chances came and went before half-time.
The second half was sloppy, scrappy and bitty before Rooney came on just after the hour mark, replacing Tomasz Radzinski. With 17 mins remaining, Duncan Ferguson joined Rooney up-front, replacing scorer Kevin Campbell.
Ferguson lost possession twice in short order, the second allowing Edwards in to shoot fiercely, drawing an excellent save from Richard Wright. But later, lee Trundle hits the bar then gets himself books.
Moments later, Wayne Rooney opened his account for Everton, scoring his first goal to become the youngest goalscorer ever for Everton.
Then, a pitch invasion saw fans running from the Wrexham end to the Everton end. The ref stopped the game, but the police quickly removed all the fans from the field.
After a few mins, the referee restarts the game to play out the last 5 mins. Wayne Rooney then strolls through to score his second goal, dancing past a defender and slotting it home with aplomb. 0-3!!! He then nearly gets his hat-trick with a header that just goes wide.
Wrexham, not to be outdone, has a go from 40 yards but Rooney has another go and fires fractionally wide during the 5 mins of stoppage time following the encroachment.
Wrexham ?-? Everton
After 30 Sep 2002
Match Preview
I greatly feared Fulham would arrive and play us off the park, but they didn't and we quite simply outclassed them. With a degree more luck or composure, or a less able keeper, the score would have been far greater than the simple couple.
Kevin Campbell may be yet to score a goal outside the 6-yard box but as he's second in the scoring charts at the moment — who cares!!
We travel to Wrexham with just Mark Pembridge unavailable from Saturday — an eye injury or sumat!
Otherwise, it's the other 10 heroes and the 5 unused subs. The standard and promise of the subs is what most impressed me on Saturday: the youth and immense promise of Rooney; the enthusiasm of Naysmith; the experience (but no speed) of Stubbs; and the latest return of Dunc. Isn't it heartening to see a manager who is comfortable enough with his first team to leave Dunc on the bench and wait to see when or if he ever gets fit.
Against Wrexham, I would be surprised to see the back four change. Weir and Yobo need time together and Wright simply needs games (and clean sheets). Moyes may wish to rest young Hibbert and give Watson a run if he is fit but I think he will probably resist this. The more likely change would be to give Naysmith a run ahead of Unsworth, with Unsworth perhaps replacing Pembridge in midfield.
Carsley must be assured of a game but predicting elsewhere is a lottery depending on how seriously Moyes takes the game. However, we'd be surprised not to see Rooney get a run and maybe 20 mins for Dunc if the game allows for it.
Wrexham — who we beat 2-0 in preseason — are apparently likely to be shorn of up to 4 first-teamers who played in their 2-2 draw with Bury at the weekend.
Old hand Andy Dibble (Keeper) is out as is defender Steve Roberts. Dan Bennett and Paul Edwards (WHO?) are also subject to late fitness tests.
I am not going to comment on previous highly embarrasing Worthington Cup games - that was an old management structure with old ideas. This is MOYE'S team and you will be damned if you do not try.
There are also the genuine stirrings of competition for places. If given the chance the likes of Linderot, Watson, Carsley, Chadwick, Stubbs, Ferguson and even young McLeod (who I would love to see get a run) will be desperate to prove they are worthy of a place at Old Trafford next Monday.
Quite frankly we should batter them but lets tone it down, regain a touch of my negativity, await Dunc's next injury and simply swat them aside 2-0. One word: Rooney.
BlueForEver
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