Match Preview

After another unwanted break in the Premiership schedule, Everton return to action in their second successive home fixture looking to register consecutive victories for the first time since December.

The match marks David Moyes's second anniversary in charge at Goodison and also represents the Blues' opportunity to achieve their first double of the campaign, having beaten Harry Redknapp's Pompey 2-1 earlier in the season.

Apart from Alessandro Pistone, who is recovering from injury, and Tommy Gravesen who is suspended after getting a fifth yellow card, Moyes is likely to field the same side that started against Aston Villa last time out, despite the fact that it was Tomasz Radzinski who provided the catalyst for that 2-0 win.

The Canadian will probably have to settle for a place on the bench once more behind Messers Rooney and Ferguson, as will James McFadden who is having to be patient in his desire for first-team football.  Rooney is sitting on nine yellow cards, so his next moment of indiscretion with the ref will lead to an automatic (two-match?) ban.

Portsmouth are sitting on the edge of the bottom three, separated from the drop zone only by goal difference. In their last game, they were given a 5-1 hiding by Arsenal and they have yet to win away from home this season.

Furthermore, they haven't won at Goodison Park for 48 years so with form and history on their side, Everton will be looking for another three points and a final chance to make a late, if unlikely, charge for the European place they missed out on last season.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

This will be the 49th meeting between Everton and Portsmouth in all competitions, and the 25th at Goodison Park.  This match will only be the 2nd meeting in the Premier League and the first match in the competition at Goodison Park between the two teams.

Everton's full record against Portsmouth is:

Our record at home against Portsmouth is:

The last match between the two sides was earlier this season on 13 December when we won 2-1 at Fratton Park with goals from Lee Carsley and Wayne Rooney.  The last match at Goodison Park was 5 October 1994 when goals from Vinny Samways and Graham Stuart couldn't stop a 3-2 defeat in the League Cup.  Everton's last league match at Goodison Park against Portsmouth was a 2-1 victory in April 1988.

Everton's biggest victory at home against Portsmouth is 5-0 on 7 February 1903 in what has been the only FA Cup meeting between the two teams, and was also the first meeting between the teams in any competition.  Everton's highest league victory at Goodison Park against Portsmouth has been by four clear goals.  There have been two 4-0 victories in September 1928 and November 1936, with a 5-1 victory in September 1938, whilst Everton were on their way to winning the title.  The heaviest defeat at Goodison Park was 5-0 in September 1948.

The most common victory for Everton is shared between 2-0 and 4-0, both of which have occurred twice in Everton's 11 victories.  Portsmouth's most common victory is shared between 2-0 and 3-2, which have both happened twice in their 8 victories.  The most common draw between the sides is 1-1, which has happened 3 times out of the 5 draws in total, the other two draws being 0-0 and 2-2.

Everton's record for 13 March is:

This will be the first meeting between the two sides on this date.  The last match played on this date was in 1999 when Arsenal ran out 2-0 winners at Goodison Park.

Milestone's that can be reached in this game:

• If David Unsworth plays any part in the match, it will be his 300th league appearance for Everton.  He has, so far, made 269 starts and 30 substitute appearances for the club in the league.
• If Lee Carsley starts the match, it will be his 50th start for Everton in all competitions.
• If Steve Watson plays any part in the match, it will be his 100th appearance for Everton in all competitions.
• If Everton score, it will be the 50th goal scored against Portsmouth in all competitions at Goodison Park, and will also be the 100th league goal the club has scored since David Moyes became manager.
• If Everton score exactly 6 goals, it will be the 50th match in which Everton have managed a six-goal haul.
• If Wayne Rooney scores a hat-trick before the end of the season, he will be beat William Dean's record of the youngest ever Everton player to score three goals in a match.

Steve Flanagan

Report

A fairly poor game to be honest.  Neither keeper had much to do at all throughout the game.  No matter what Harry Redknapp will say, Portsmouth were there for a draw and to grab a goal if they were lucky enough from a set piece (as nearly happened near the end).  Neither keeper was ever fully tested — which gives a clear indication of the quality and style of game.  But we've dug out another result where months earlier we may have buckled ad lost so there is at least that to take from the game, as well as the three points and Rooney's celebration!

There was a minute's silence dedicated to the memory of those involved in the events in Madrid and to the memory of Everton stalwart (if I remember the phrase they used correctly) Tommy Eglington — the dedication to Madrid was mentioned first then Eglington's name was mentioned... almost as an afterthought?  More than two weeks after he died???  [This sign of respect for a past blue was not done before the Villa game apparently because Michael Dunford, Everton CEO, had concerns that it would not be properly observed!!!]

Hibbert did put in some better crosses today but for at least half the time his passing was dreadful, including what could generously be described as risky short passes inside his own area which almost proved costly.  Naysmith took over the Unsworth role of hoofing it up to Dunc when he was on the pitch... and then continued the trend when he went off!  Defensively he was sound enough but our distribution from the back was typically pitiful.   There was a bit of anxiety in the defence which lead to a few miscues; some have said that Mellberg at Villa would be a great partner for Yobo at the back.

Linderoth did well today.  He didn't always go in at people as the crowd wanted but he did make several timely interceptions and tackles and generally did well to disrupt any Portsmouth attacks/midfield play.  For a man of the match you'd have to look at either Nyarko or Kilbane.  In the first half. Kilbane was easily the best player on the pitch and was badly underused in the second half — which was a bit surprising as he seemed to have the beating of their full back and easily looked like the best source of a goal.   In the second half he wasn't used anywhere near as much.

Nyarko, on the other hand, didn't tackle much, only putting a foot in when it looked certain he'd get the ball, but he used the ball well in possession.  I can't really remember a wasted pass by him.  For the most part, he looked to thread the ball through to Radz/Rooney or out wide and was well worth a starting place.  Without wishing to drag out the Sean Davis partner scenario, it did make me wonder how Nyarko would do with a Davis/Savage type alongside him. 

The right wing was our weakest area in the first half.  Watson went missing and didn't offer as much either defensively or offensively as Kilbane did on the other flank.  It surprised me a bit that McFadden didn't get a chance to play out there for a few minutes at least, though you can understand Moyes keeping Watson on for his defensive abilities for the last ten minutes or so.

Up front, Dunc did his usual while he was on the pitch without looking as up for it as he had done before; whether or not he was carrying an injury into the game I'm not sure.  Having Radzinski on the pitch does make such a difference to us, as long balls now had someone on the attack who could at least reach them and make something of them — as he did with the goal. 

The focus of Portsmouth's defensive strategy was there for all too see as they did what most if not all teams have done this year and crowd Rooney out as quickly as possible.  At one point in the first half when he got the ball and turned 25 yards out he was surrounded by no less than four Portsmouth players!  When he did get free, it look like he could turn the game.  He should have added to his one strike and was unlucky not to late on. 

Rooney's goal celebration though, just epitomised what it is to be an Evertonian and not just to play for the Blues but to score for them too: he went off on a tear down the touchline from Gwladys St to Park End momentarily slowing up by the Pompey fans who'd given him the now usual away fan taunt of you fat bastard, face clenched in a "YES" expression hand to ear, then onto the Park End to be caught by the rest of the team.  Then it was back to the half way line as the stadium cried out his name in one of the loudest Rooney chants I've heard at Goodison, powered by relief for the most part you'd have to think as well as being grateful that someone had finally broken the deadlock in a fairly poor game.

Not a very impressive performance by a certain N Barry as referee either.  And, for those of you who dislike the more mad, crazy, looney type of supporter that Sky love, Pompey's own tattoed, blue-haired comedian was escorted out of the away section just before the second half to great acclaim from those in the lower corner of the Park End.  I can't shed any light on why he went from my vantage point in the upper part of the Park End though two stewards stayed in his place after he'd gone so I can only assume the daft goon had got a bit too lippy for the stewards/police's liking.

Overall I'd say we deserved it purely for looking to have a bit more about us in terms of looking to win the game, though not producing a heck of a lot especially in terms of clear cut chances. Hopefully a few more wins will see us finish in a top half position — not sure about Europe though!

Simon Hereford