COLUMNIST PAUL TRAILL

Still in the hat

By Paul Traill   ::  22/09/2011

Coming straight from work down the East Lancs Road and it started to absolutely belt it down. It made me wonder how many "walk-up" supporters would think again about going the match tonight. I got dropped off just by the Park End, grabbed a chippy and was in the pub in ample time and soon joined by Ste and then by Sue and Gary. Ste and I also bumped into and old friend from school Guarov?nice to catch up with him.

I got the news in the pub that Mucha, Heitinga, Neville, Drenthe, Barkley and Stracqualursi all into the team replacing Howard, Distin, Hibbert, Bilyaletdinov, Osman and Cahill. How many were likely to stake a claim? Saha was again dropped because of his recent misdemeanor. West Brom began with Fulop in goal, Olsson featuring in defence, Brunt in midfield and Tchoyi and Odemwingie in attack. Mr J Moss officiated.

The walk on to Goodison Park was cold, damp and quiet. The stadium also far from full inside. Plenty of empty seats as many stayed away?three home games in a row has taken its toll. With Neville the skipper we won the toss and attacked the Park End in the first half.

We did pretty well for the first five minutes I suppose but after that seriously struggled to break down a very stubborn and organized West Brom team. More to the point, West Brom really oughta have been ahead at the break with Tchoyi and Odemwingie both blazing over the bar after carving out decent opportunities. At the other end I think Barkley probably came closest with an effort from distance though there was precious little going on in the game?not even a shot on target from either team I don?t think. I even went for a half time beer to get warm as it was pretty darn cold for September.

The second half began with Everton spurred into life and almost scoring from something of a goalmouth scramble though somehow failing to find their way through with a combination of defenders and goalkeeper denying us. We looked to be doing OK though and then on the hour mark disaster struck when Odemwingie was played through on the counter attack and found himself one-on-one with Jan Mucha. The Slovakian bringing him down for a penalty to West Brom and a booking for Mucha. Brunt stepped up, sent Mucha the wrong way. West Brom 1-0 ahead. ?This will go to extra time, this,? muttered Ste.

Sure enough it did thanks to an 88th minute leveler from Fellaini who swiveled at the edge of the box and placed an excellent half volley into the corner of the net past Fulop. Nobody really wanted extra time I wouldn?t have thought (well rather that than lose I suppose!) and Rodwell came mighty close to preventing it with a header which flashed just wide of the post. On with pressed for another half hour with extra time un-prevented?

The winner finally came towards the end of the first half of extra time when Drenthe did brilliantly to take on (and beat) a few players and pull the ball back for Neville inside the box. Our skipper did well, clipping the ball in nicely with his left foot to put us ahead. Cue relief all round. Scharner (off the bench) did his best to spoil the party but Mucha saved well and that was that. Everton still in the hat after a determined fight back? though West Brom will be disappointed not to have gone through in 90 minutes? and only 17,647 were there to witness the match? a disappointing total as far as the Goodison hierarchy are concerned I assume.

Out into the night after the game and quite a journey home on a train and then a bus? it?s late, I?m tired and want to go to bed. Bring on the last 16!

Player Ratings:

Mucha: made a good stop at the death but will be remembered for giving away a penalty and some hazardous ball control in the first half. 5

Baines: What you see is what you get from Baines. Crossing has been better but did OK and worked hard. 6

Jagielka: Marshaled OK. 6

Heitinga: Not quite as comfortable as Jags and got out-muscled a few times. 5

Neville: Crossing not great but was reliable and consistent and popped up with a very good goal ? his first ever in the League Cup. 7

Fellaini: Labored until he scored and then came to life. Lovely goal. Still not quite up to full speed. 6

Drenthe: My man of the match. Bags of enthusiasm, pace and effort and set up the winner. A really good shift. 8

Coleman: Struggling for fitness but more minutes on the pitch will have helped. 6

Rodwell: Usual Jack. A busy start before fading entirely and then popping up sporadically. Needs to dominate a lot more than he is doing. 5

Barkley: Just never got going really before subbed. 4

|Stracqualursi: Worked very hard but obviously nowhere near fit just yet. More games for Vellios and Cahill up front for a while yet I reckon. Can be pleased with his effort though. 6

Cahill (for Stracqualursi): Did very well. Was asked to hold as Fellaini was pushed forward and did his job very well. Can see him perhaps ending up in that position as he gets older. 7

Vellios (for Barkley): Seems more composed and mature for his age than you would expect. Is certainly making the most of his opportunity at the moment. 7

|Gueye: I guess it was his first game of the season and he is just back from injury but boy did he look exhausted. Regardless, he got down the wing well and put in some superb balls?as to did Drenthe. Bilyaletdinov will be gutted I assume. 6
 

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