Match Summary

James McFadden: May get another chance to prove he has what it takes

Kick-off was delayed as the crowds thronged to Goodison Park and created the usual turnstile chaos when it is unreserved seating, with prices slashed to £15 (£10 for kids and OAPs).  The capacity is reduced by 15% (under agreement with the FA) to 34,000 due to FA regulations, and kick-off was delayed by 10 mins in consequence — despite the wet and blustery conditions.

David Moyes welcomed his old club to Goodison by making five changes from the weekend, resting Martyn, Stubbs, Gravesen, Cahill, and Bent; their replacements are Wright, Yobo, Watson, with  Jamie McFadden and the Big Yin himself, Duncan Ferguson pairing up in a two-man attack with a distinctly Scottish flavour.

The kick finally came in front of a sell-out crowd, with a number of hardened Evertonian drinkers locked out and causing a right stink!  Everton started brightly, Ferguson almost setting up McFadden from the kick-off.  But Preston settled well and looked fully prepared to give their hosts a game.  Carsley made little of a free-kick won  by Ferguson.  Duncan was causing a lot of trouble early on, proving a real handful for the Preston defenders.

Everton maintained the pressure with a series of corners delivered well from either side by McFadden and Carsley.  Another free-kick saw Carsley tee it up for Kilbane but it was deflected out for a corner.  McFadden then had a pop on goal but it flew just wide.  Ferguson was then on target with a nice header from a nice ball off Watson but Ward saved.

Another Watson flick-on that McFadden fed perfectly to Ferguson's feet for the best chance of the half, but Ward was out sharply to save.  Then a long ball McFadden did well to intercept and control but he chipped over Ward and over the crossbar.

0-0 at half-time, and Osman soon knocked down, winning a free-kick on the edge of the Preston penalty area.  Lee Carsley, a beautiful strike, right-footed around the wall, Ward floundering... GOAL!

Watson was a little too slow to take advantage on a great opportunity created for him by Osman and McFadden.  Then a great break by Carsley and Ferguson feeding McFadden but Ferguson was unable to convert the return ball at the far post.

Mawene got the ball in the Everton net for Preston but teh flag went up straight away.  Preston then got a free-kick for handball by Pistone that they worked well, forcing Richard Wright to make an excellent stretching save low down to his right for a corner.  A little bit of pressure from Preston...

Carsley ran into Skora inside the Preston box, and was forced to walk, the referee indicating that Carsley had elbowed the substitute!  Down to ten men and 15 mins to play!!!

Kilbane got a great run and went for it, despite support from Osman, but his shot went out for a corner.  It was end to end stuff as Preston pushed hard, opening themselves up to repeated Everton attacks.

McFadden then totally blew his customary sitter from 7 yards out, the poor sod.  The ball rolled perfectly across the face of the goal for him, he skyed it over the bar... A shocking miss!  Seconds later, Ferguson and Watson combined but Watson over-hit it and crucially lost contact. 

With 2 mins left, the flagging Ferguson came off to a rapturous reception, with Marcus Bent replacing him.  Osman, then skipped along the bye-line and slotted back for Marcus Bent to tap it in with his first touch of the game after just 15 seconds!

Moyes then called McFadden off, knowing an enthusiastic Everton would give the lad a huge round of applause and hopefully boost his seriously dented confidence.  Cahill replaced him.  Hibbert then tried to work a nice one-two into the are but failed.  Then it was Bent's turn for the coup de grace, as he rounded the goalie but could not get the third.

Michael Kenrick