Match Preview
If the win at Manchester City earlier in the season atoned for a truly
dreadful performance in the corresponding fixture last season, then this
weekend's trip to Birmingham City offers a similar chance at redemption
for a dire 3-0 reverse at St Andrews in 2003-04. It was an example of
Everton at their worst.
By contrast this season, we have at times seen Everton at their best,
and against all the odds and predictions of the pundits. This game comes,
however, at somewhat of a crossroads for David Moyes's side. Winless now
in three games and having lost their unbeaten away record in the Premiership
last weekend, they reached a nadir on Tuesday with the 3-1 Cup defeat
to Arsenal's reserve team. Defeat here and the seeds of doubt could start
eating away at our fine start to the campaign.
The suspension of Lee Carsley was the first major disruption of the unit
that has driven them to the top three in the table but a more devastating
loss could be that of Marcus Bent, who took a knock to the knee at Highbury
and is rated doubtful.
With Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell also struggling with injuries,
the manager may be forced to employ James McFadden and Nick Chadwick up
front, arguably his least convincing attacking partnership available to
him.
McFadden's crisis of confidence continues; while he is eager to be
involved and often is when the Blues are going forward, he is frequently found
wanting in the final third. It's a shame, because many of us had high
hopes that he would make the grade whereas now, hand on heart, it doesn't
look as though he will, even taking his relative youth into account.
Chadwick, on the other hand, just hasn't been able to break into the first
team despite a consistent goals return at reserves level. He has made
just one league start in 15 months and yet, when Moyes first arrived, he
looked one of the Blues' most promising youngsters. Unlike McFadden, he
hasn't really had many chances to show what he can do. When he has, he
has found the going hard... although his goals-to-appearances ratio over
the past two seasons stands at two to seven (only two of those were starting
appearances).
Moyes will be hoping that one of his walking wounded will recover in
time to be passed fit, with a number of bruised and battered players
to worry about following Tuesday's game. If his first-choice players in
the rest of the team do shake off their respective knocks, we should see
a return to the five-man quintet of Osman, Cahill, Gravesen, Carsley and
Kilbane, with Weir and Stubbs back in defence at the expense of Joseph
Yobo. Alessandro Pistone and Tony Hibbert will assume their usual
full-back roles
in front of Nigel Martyn.
Birmingham had been going through an uncharacteristic lean spell until
their unlikely victory at Anfield last weekend. That will provide Steve
Bruce's men with ample confidence going into this live televised game. That solitary goal against Liverpool was their only goal in almost eight
hours of Premiership football, however, so they are clearly struggling
to find their rhythm in attack a good omen for Everton's stingy rearguard.
Clinton Morrisson is rumoured to be in line for a surprise return to
action following knee surgery, and he joins Muzzy Izzett and Stan Lazaridis
on the list of newly available players for the Midlanders.
The combination of Birmingham's buoyed confidence, home-field advantage,
and Everton's recent blip will make this a difficult game for the Walton Blues,
but there has been plenty of fighting talk from Bellefield this week, with
Steve Watson and Kevin Kilbane vowing to silence the renewed murmuring
from the critics and get back to winning ways.
With our cushion above fourth placed reduced to just a point and the
chasing pack gaining ground, three points are vital if we hope to stay
in this seemingly impossible position sitting immediately behind Chelsea
and Arsenal. Much depends on who is available to lead the line and just
how much self-belief the Blues have.
Lyndon Lloyd
Matchday Stats
This will be the 113th meeting between
Everton and Birmingham City in all competitions, and the 57th at
Birmingham. This match will be the 5th meeting in the Premier League and
the 3rd at Birmingham.
Everton's full record against Birmingham
City is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
Division One |
98 |
52 |
26 |
20 |
192 |
120 |
Division Two |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
14 |
FA Cup |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
TOTALS:
|
112 |
57 |
30 |
25 |
209 |
144 |
Our record away to Birmingham City is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Division One |
49 |
19 |
15 |
15 |
72 |
64 |
Division Two |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
FA Cup |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
TOTALS:
|
56 |
20 |
17 |
19 |
80 |
78 |
The last match between the sides was on
11 February this year, when Birmingham ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at
St. Andrews.
There have been 6 Everton hat-tricks
against Birmingham. The last was on 31 August 1985, when Gary Lineker
scored 3 in Evertons 4-1 victory at Goodison Park. Alf Milward, on 7
December 1895, and Alex Latta, on 3 November 1894, are the only Everton
hat-tricks at Birmingham.
The most common victory for Everton is
2-0, which has happened 10 times in Everton's 57 victories. Birmingham's
most common victory is 1-0, which has happened 5 times in their 25
victories. The most common draw between the teams is 1-1, which has
occurred 13 times in the 30 draws between the sides.
Everton's record for 13 November is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Division One |
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
19 |
TOTALS:
|
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
19 |
This is the first time these sides have
met on this day. Also, this will be the first Premier League match played
by Everton on this day, as all previous 12 matches on 13 November have
been in the old Division One. The last match played on this day was in
1982, when Everton drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Highbury, with Andy King
getting Evertons goal.
Derek Temple was born on this day in
1938 in Liverpool. Derek signed professional forms with the club in
August 1956. He made 277 appearances and scored 84 goals during his time
at Everton, with his most famous goal being the winner in the 1966 FA Cup
Final. During his time at the club, Derek made his only appearance for
England in a 1-0 victory over West Germany in 1965. After 11 years with
the club Derek moved to Preston North End in September 1967.
Neill Rimmer was also born on this day
in 1967 in Liverpool. Neill signed professional forms in April 1984 and
made just 1 substitute appearance for the club before being sold to
Ipswich Town in August 1985.
Billy Cook won his second Northern Irish
cap whilst at Everton on this day in 1935. Scotland went on to win the
game 2-1. Alex Stevenson was also in the Northern Ireland team that day.
In 1946, TG Jones was in the Welsh side
that lost 3-0 to England in the Home International Championship.
Peter Corr and Peter Farrell were in the
Republic of Ireland team that lost 3-1 to Sweden in a World Cup qualifying
match on this day in 1949.
Paul Bracewell made his third and last
England appearance on this day in 1985 in a 0-0 draw with Northern
Ireland. This match also saw Gary Lineker and Gary Stevens in the England
line up.
On the same day in 1985, Kevin Sheedy
was in the Republic of Ireland team that was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by
Denmark in a World Cup qualifying match. Six years later, in 1991, Kevin
played in Irelands 3-1 victory over Turkey in a European Championship
qualifying match.
On the
same day in 1991, Robert Warzycha was in the Polish side that drew 1-1
with England in a friendly match. Whilst, Neville Southall was in the
Welsh side that beat Luxembourg 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier.
On this
day in 1999, David Weir, John Collins and Don Hutchison were members of
the Scotland team that lost 2-0 to England in a European Championship
play-off first leg.
In 1984,
Derek Mountfield won his only England B cap in a 2-0 victory over New
Zealand.
John Hurst
scored a goal in England u23s 2-2 draw with their Dutch counterparts on
this day in 1968, along with Howard Kendall.
Trevor
Steven was in the England u21 team that drew 0-0 with Turkey u21 on this
day in 1984, whilst John Ebbrell was in the victorious England u21 side on
this day in 1990, as they beat the Republic of Ireland u21 team 3-0.
Milestones
that can be reached in this game:
This
match will be the 50th away match in the Premier League, since David Moyes
became manager.
If
Duncan Ferguson starts the game he will be making his 150th start for
Everton in the Premier League.
If
Everton manage to score three goals, then the third will be the 150th
scored under the management of David Moyes in all competitions.
Steve Flanagan
If the win at Manchester City earlier in the season atoned for a truly
dreadful performance in the corresponding fixture last season, then this
weekend's trip to Birmingham City offers a similar chance at redemption
for a dire 3-0 reverse at St Andrews in 2003-04. It was an example of
Everton at their worst.
By contrast this season, we have at times seen Everton at their best,
and against all the odds and predictions of the pundits. This game comes,
however, at somewhat of a crossroads for David Moyes's side. Winless now
in three games and having lost their unbeaten away record in the Premiership
last weekend, they reached a nadir on Tuesday with the 3-1 Cup defeat
to Arsenal's reserve team. Defeat here and the seeds of doubt could start
eating away at our fine start to the campaign.
The suspension of Lee Carsley was the first major disruption of the unit
that has driven them to the top three in the table but a more devastating
loss could be that of Marcus Bent, who took a knock to the knee at Highbury
and is rated doubtful.
With Duncan Ferguson and Kevin Campbell also struggling with injuries,
the manager may be forced to employ James McFadden and Nick Chadwick up
front, arguably his least convincing attacking partnership available to
him.
McFadden's crisis of confidence continues; while he is eager to be
involved and often is when the Blues are going forward, he is frequently found
wanting in the final third. It's a shame, because many of us had high
hopes that he would make the grade whereas now, hand on heart, it doesn't
look as though he will, even taking his relative youth into account.
Chadwick, on the other hand, just hasn't been able to break into the first
team despite a consistent goals return at reserves level. He has made
just one league start in 15 months and yet, when Moyes first arrived, he
looked one of the Blues' most promising youngsters. Unlike McFadden, he
hasn't really had many chances to show what he can do. When he has, he
has found the going hard... although his goals-to-appearances ratio over
the past two seasons stands at two to seven (only two of those were starting
appearances).
Moyes will be hoping that one of his walking wounded will recover in
time to be passed fit, with a number of bruised and battered players
to worry about following Tuesday's game. If his first-choice players in
the rest of the team do shake off their respective knocks, we should see
a return to the five-man quintet of Osman, Cahill, Gravesen, Carsley and
Kilbane, with Weir and Stubbs back in defence at the expense of Joseph
Yobo. Alessandro Pistone and Tony Hibbert will assume their usual
full-back roles
in front of Nigel Martyn.
Birmingham had been going through an uncharacteristic lean spell until
their unlikely victory at Anfield last weekend. That will provide Steve
Bruce's men with ample confidence going into this live televised game. That solitary goal against Liverpool was their only goal in almost eight
hours of Premiership football, however, so they are clearly struggling
to find their rhythm in attack a good omen for Everton's stingy rearguard.
Clinton Morrisson is rumoured to be in line for a surprise return to
action following knee surgery, and he joins Muzzy Izzett and Stan Lazaridis
on the list of newly available players for the Midlanders.
The combination of Birmingham's buoyed confidence, home-field advantage,
and Everton's recent blip will make this a difficult game for the Walton Blues,
but there has been plenty of fighting talk from Bellefield this week, with
Steve Watson and Kevin Kilbane vowing to silence the renewed murmuring
from the critics and get back to winning ways.
With our cushion above fourth placed reduced to just a point and the
chasing pack gaining ground, three points are vital if we hope to stay
in this seemingly impossible position sitting immediately behind Chelsea
and Arsenal. Much depends on who is available to lead the line and just
how much self-belief the Blues have.
Lyndon Lloyd
Matchday Stats
This will be the 113th meeting between
Everton and Birmingham City in all competitions, and the 57th at
Birmingham. This match will be the 5th meeting in the Premier League and
the 3rd at Birmingham.
Everton's full record against Birmingham
City is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
4 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
Division One |
98 |
52 |
26 |
20 |
192 |
120 |
Division Two |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
8 |
14 |
FA Cup |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
5 |
TOTALS:
|
112 |
57 |
30 |
25 |
209 |
144 |
Our record away to Birmingham City is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Premier League |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
Division One |
49 |
19 |
15 |
15 |
72 |
64 |
Division Two |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
FA Cup |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
TOTALS:
|
56 |
20 |
17 |
19 |
80 |
78 |
The last match between the sides was on
11 February this year, when Birmingham ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at
St. Andrews.
There have been 6 Everton hat-tricks
against Birmingham. The last was on 31 August 1985, when Gary Lineker
scored 3 in Evertons 4-1 victory at Goodison Park. Alf Milward, on 7
December 1895, and Alex Latta, on 3 November 1894, are the only Everton
hat-tricks at Birmingham.
The most common victory for Everton is
2-0, which has happened 10 times in Everton's 57 victories. Birmingham's
most common victory is 1-0, which has happened 5 times in their 25
victories. The most common draw between the teams is 1-1, which has
occurred 13 times in the 30 draws between the sides.
Everton's record for 13 November is:
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Division One |
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
19 |
TOTALS:
|
12 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
19 |
This is the first time these sides have
met on this day. Also, this will be the first Premier League match played
by Everton on this day, as all previous 12 matches on 13 November have
been in the old Division One. The last match played on this day was in
1982, when Everton drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Highbury, with Andy King
getting Evertons goal.
Derek Temple was born on this day in
1938 in Liverpool. Derek signed professional forms with the club in
August 1956. He made 277 appearances and scored 84 goals during his time
at Everton, with his most famous goal being the winner in the 1966 FA Cup
Final. During his time at the club, Derek made his only appearance for
England in a 1-0 victory over West Germany in 1965. After 11 years with
the club Derek moved to Preston North End in September 1967.
Neill Rimmer was also born on this day
in 1967 in Liverpool. Neill signed professional forms in April 1984 and
made just 1 substitute appearance for the club before being sold to
Ipswich Town in August 1985.
Billy Cook won his second Northern Irish
cap whilst at Everton on this day in 1935. Scotland went on to win the
game 2-1. Alex Stevenson was also in the Northern Ireland team that day.
In 1946, TG Jones was in the Welsh side
that lost 3-0 to England in the Home International Championship.
Peter Corr and Peter Farrell were in the
Republic of Ireland team that lost 3-1 to Sweden in a World Cup qualifying
match on this day in 1949.
Paul Bracewell made his third and last
England appearance on this day in 1985 in a 0-0 draw with Northern
Ireland. This match also saw Gary Lineker and Gary Stevens in the England
line up.
On the same day in 1985, Kevin Sheedy
was in the Republic of Ireland team that was comprehensively beaten 4-1 by
Denmark in a World Cup qualifying match. Six years later, in 1991, Kevin
played in Irelands 3-1 victory over Turkey in a European Championship
qualifying match.
On the
same day in 1991, Robert Warzycha was in the Polish side that drew 1-1
with England in a friendly match. Whilst, Neville Southall was in the
Welsh side that beat Luxembourg 1-0 in a European Championship qualifier.
On this
day in 1999, David Weir, John Collins and Don Hutchison were members of
the Scotland team that lost 2-0 to England in a European Championship
play-off first leg.
In 1984,
Derek Mountfield won his only England B cap in a 2-0 victory over New
Zealand.
John Hurst
scored a goal in England u23s 2-2 draw with their Dutch counterparts on
this day in 1968, along with Howard Kendall.
Trevor
Steven was in the England u21 team that drew 0-0 with Turkey u21 on this
day in 1984, whilst John Ebbrell was in the victorious England u21 side on
this day in 1990, as they beat the Republic of Ireland u21 team 3-0.
Milestones
that can be reached in this game:
This
match will be the 50th away match in the Premier League, since David Moyes
became manager.
If
Duncan Ferguson starts the game he will be making his 150th start for
Everton in the Premier League.
If
Everton manage to score three goals, then the third will be the 150th
scored under the management of David Moyes in all competitions.
Steve Flanagan

Birmingham pay the penalty
Everton got back to winning ways following three games without
a win and two successive defeats to the monied power-houses of Chelsea
and Arsenal thanks to a second-half penalty by Thomas Gravesen.
When Muzzy Izzet used both hands to parry Lee Carsley's net-bound
strike over the bar with 23 minutes left, referee Rob Styles was
left with no option but to show the Birmingham midfielder an automatic
red card and award the visitors the decisive spot kick.
The result was no more than the Merseyside Blues deserved after
playing an effective game of containment and doing just enough to
take all three points from a very disappointing Birmingham. This
was far from Everton's best performance of the season but they could
have won by two goals had Leon Osman belted a 78th-minute strike
the right side of the post after being put in the clear by Gravesen.
As it was, it was Birmingham who might have scored in the closing
stages when Hibbert had to head off the line from Emile Heskey and
Dwight Yorke finished off his side's best move of the game by blazing
over from close range with just Nigel Martyn to beat. But, the Blues
held on comfortably in injury time to earn their fifth away win
of the campaign so far.
David Moyes was buoyed before the game by the fact that Marcus
Bent was passed fit after recovering from a knee injury and, with
the return of Lee Carsley from suspension, was able to field his
first-choice eleven for the first time since the victory at Norwich
City — not coincidentally his team's last victory.
It was Birmingham, though, who made the early running as Everton
ceded possession in the first quarter of an hour. Jesper Gronkjaer
had the first effort on goal, cutting inside and firing wide left
of the goal after three minutes while a low cross caused Everton
hearts to flutter before Hibbert blocked the danger. Midfielder
Julian Gray then fired wide off the stanchion and, from a Gronkjaer
cross, Izzet headed down but his effort was comfortably smothered
by Martyn.
Everton began to assume control midway through the half, though,
and Leon Osman flashed in their first shot on goal after 18 minutes
but it was dealt with well by Maik Taylor. On the half-hour mark,
the goalkeeper had to recover after spilling a Gravesen free-kick
but then almost presented Osman
with the opener in the 38th minute when he flapped at a couple high
balls — Osman's shot was blocked by Cunningham.
Despite their territorial and technical superiority, however, the
Blues offered little going forward. Thankfully, their hosts were
even worse, exemplified when Heskey dropped a shot over the bar
just before the interval.
Half time brought no changes in either personnel or the pattern
of the game, which continued in pedestrian fashion until 20 minutes
after break when Heskey shrugged off the attentions of David Weir
but half-volleyed well over.
A minute later, Cahill met a Hibbert cross with a glancing header
that deflected goalwards off Melchiot and was shuffled around the
post by Taylor. From the resulting corner, the ball broke to Carsley
just outside the area and, after one touch, he despatched a
terrific
shot that was dipping under the bar until Izzett's volley-ball style
save denied him. Izzett was sent off and Gravesen stepped up to
stroke the ball into the corner with Taylor diving the other way.
Kevin Kilbane had an opportunity to double the advantage two minutes
later with a volley from the edge of the box but it was too close
to the 'keeper. Two minutes after that, Hibbert denied Heskey on
the line and Upson then headed a corner over the bar as Steve Bruce's
10 men tried to get back on level terms.
After Osman had missed his wonderful chance to seal the game, Everton
did an effective job of shutting the game down until, with their
best move of the match, Birmingham put Yorke through on goal but
Martyn did enough to distract the striker into firing over the bar.
And that was it, bar a couple of Everton substitutions that saw
Ferguson replace Osman in the 88th minute and Watson come on for
Bent in injury time that was extended because of a clash of heads
between Stubbs and Pistone.
In the end, Everton did just enough to win this one. Not to take
anything away from them because a win is a win, but this had goalless
draw written all over it for long periods because clear-cut chances
were at a premium. But the Toffees were clearly the better side; this victory restores the four-point cushion between themselves
and Bolton and brings Moyes that much closer to his 40-point target.
Lyndon Lloyd

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