Season 2011-12 Fan Articles

New Boys Offer Hope

There was no protest this week with fans having to settle for a troupe of drummers near the Park End. Saha appeared to throw his toys out the pram before kickoff, with a series of despairing 'tweets'. The starting line-up remained unchanged from last week. The fit-again Heitinga replacing Gueye on the bench was the only change in the squad.

Rodwell fired a shot well wide inside the opening few minutes. The first real opening for either team came after 5 minutes, Baines played a cross to the back post and Al-Habsi was on hand to divert Coleman's header behind. A scramble ensued from the corner before Wigan cleared their lines.

Wigan's first real chance came shortly afterwards with Fellaini at fault. He slipped on the greasy turf and gifted the ball to Di Santo. The Argentinean fired wastefully over with Rodallega well placed to his right. After some good build up down the Everton left, Cahill had a shot blocked by Caldwell and then shortly afterwards, Osman curled a shot over after a good ball by Bilyaletdinov.

Wigan began seeing more of the ball as the half wore on with Watson prominent. The Wigan midfielder continually collected the ball off the Wigan back four and brought it forward unopposed. Everton have struggled this season against teams that play 4-3-3. The midfielders drop off allowing the opposition to play their way up the pitch with Everton unsure of how to cope with the extra forward.

With 15 minutes till the interval, Wigan took the lead against the run of play. Osman appealed for a foul and made the fateful mistake of stopping. This allowed Di Santo to cut inside and score via a deflection off Hibbert.; the Argentinean's 3 goals this season have taken deflections. The goal was poor defending and means Everton continue their trend of conceding soft goals out of nothing.

The Everton response was emphatic, taking just 97 seconds to draw level. Baines fired in a corner that Cahill headed against the crossbar. Jagielka was on hand to stoop and head in the rebound. Everton were almost celebrating taking the lead shortly afterwards. Leighton Baines' free kick narrowly evaded the sprawling Osman and Cahill headed over from a Hibbert cross on half time.

Baines and Osman had good first halves and Rodwell did well in midfield winning his fair share of tackles. Cahill was battling hard but often left isolated. He gives 100% as a lone front man but it's clear that he's out of position. Hibbert and Coleman worked well down the right although both were guilty of failing to produce a good final ball.

The second half began with both sides unchanged. Coleman burst down the right and his left footed effort took a deflection as it flashed wide of the far post, although the officials awarded a goal kick. Wigan forced a few corners but Howard calmed Everton nerves by claiming one above his head. Moses took on Baines down the Wigan right; the left back was lucky not to concede a penalty. Fortunately, Moses' pull back was behind all the Wigan players and the danger was gone.

Drenthe replaced Bilyaletdinov just before the hour mark. Several minutes later, Wigan won a free kick outside the area; Rodallega set himself and then blazed it over the bar. Baines replicated this with his own free kick, 5 minutes later. Vellios came on for the ineffective Coleman with 25 minutes left.

Vellios was soon involved with an effort was straight at Al-Habsi, but he would have been better playing Osman in. Patrick Van Aanholt, the Wigan left back, had a very good game and came close to giving Wigan the lead; on two separate occasions. On 72 minutes, he fired goal wards from outside the area with the ball flashing wide off Rodwell. A few minutes later, he came even closer, this time on his weaker foot. After dancing inside Hibbert, he fired an effort goal wards that narrowly flew over the crossbar.

Everton had been lethargic for most of the second half with Wigan looking good value for a point as the half wore on. Stracqualursi replaced Cahill with 8 minutes remaining; Moyes' last throw of the dice. Howard's goal kick eventually ended up at Vellios' feet, who fed Hibbert down the right. After a touch to control it, Hibbert whipped a ball into the penalty area and Vellios steered a header into the far corner. 2-1 Everton and surely the home side would see the game out.

Wigan had other ideas and substitute Jones almost drew Wigan level. His lob from 20 yards beat Howard but not the crossbar. Rodallega was then denied by a last-ditch tackle from Hibbert and Moses blazed the loose ball over the bar. Rodallega was badly injured around the 90 minute mark leading to 6 minutes of added time.

Watson fired well over in the 6th minute of stoppage time and Everton got a third from the resulting goal kick. Stracqualursi nodded it into the path of Drenthe making a good run from midfield. The Dutchman was in behind the Wigan back line and calmly slotted past Al-Habsi. That sealed the victory and Everton saw out the few remaining time comfortably.

Everton played well first half without ever convincing, then failed to get going after half time. Vellios and the new signings had a positive impact. Hibbert was the pick of the bunch with the assist for Vellios' goal and some crucial tackles at the back. Jagielka had his best game in a while and looked solid alongside Distin. Fellaini wasn't at his best but never gave up and kept looking for the ball. Bilyaletdinov started well before fading even though he is being played out of postion.

Overall, the players still need to take more responsibility and look for possession more often. Everton would do well to copy the ethos that Martinez has instilled in his team. They play the ball on the floor and wait for a simple pass instead of playing it long.

West Brom in the Carling Cup is next up. A few of the players on the bench today should get a chance to improve their fitness. Again a win is paramount. Winning breeds confidence which helps with the standard of football.

Ratings: Howard 6, Hibbert 8, Jagielka 7, Distin 7, Baines 7, Coleman 5, Rodwell 6, Fellaini 6, Bilyaletdinov 6, Osman 6, Cahill 7

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