Season › 2011-12 › News

Bily the kid makes his mark

Bolton Wanderers 0 - 2 Everton

Injuries have begun to bite deep into David Moyes's limited side with Rodwell, Distin, Neville, and Drenthe all missing from a somewhat predictable line-up that included Saha, Cahill and Bilyaletdinov as its attacking thrust.

Everton started brightly, Coleman running at the Bolton defence, having a shot blocked them earning a free-kick from which Jagielka came very close to diverting in. From another free-kick, though, Heitinga demonstrated how poor Everton could be, playing the ball nowhere to no-one.

Everton had a succession of three corners that came to nought. Davies set up Klasnic who had a great chance to score but Howard covered the danger and saved well, as Jagielka had backed off to allow the shot.

Then the turning point, in the middle of the park, under no real pressure, Wheater lost control of the ball, and dived in after it with his studds flashing, catching Bily and sending him flying after the Russian had nicked the ball. Straight red card. Michael Oliver had no hesitation and was 100% correct. Bily needed extended treatment and some strapping but he came back on, with Everton needing to take advantage of this situation. But it riled the Bolton crowd and seemed to unsettle the Blues who took a while to grasp the opportunity.

Eagles poked in a lob that Howard saved, while Coleman fed Bily who clipped his shot wide with Ossie behind him wanting the ball as Everton looked to be a little more positive in their play. Baines then fed Bily but his control and shot was dismal. Everton then had loads of possession around the Bolton box but could not even fashion a shot on goal.

In a good move Fellaini, Cahill, Baines and Bily ran through the Bolton defence but tied themselves in knots with Saha straying offside as the ball rolled harmlessly to Jaskaleinen. Davies then gave away a nice free-kick, fouling Baines, who's training ground variation let Heitinga take the low shot, forcing a save off the deflection.

Heitinga then mirrored the scenario at the other end, fouling Davies, but the Bolton free-kick from Eagles was headed wide by Coleman in the wall and then hit Davies and went dead.

A better chance was constructed when Heitinga made a good run down the middle and pushed the ball wide for Bily who crossed early but Cahill's diving header was straight at Zac Knight's body.

But poor organization going forward led to few chances and no goals by half-time. However, some determined build-up play finally paid off after the break with good movement and a great cross from Bilyaletdinov first time from the left that Fellaini, momentarily playing centre-forward and goal-poacher, buried in fine style into the roof of the net with Jaskeleinen well beaten.

Again, Everton got the ball forward with pace, Heitinga to Saha but his execution was very disappointing.

Baines got forward too and ran in on goal from the left but his shot was poor. At the other end, Klasnic forced Howard to save with his legs as Bolton made a strong effort to push Everton back, the Blues visibly relaxing a little on their one-goal lead, a poor ball from Baines failing to set up Saha in the middle.

Baines set up Cahill for a weak header that almost scored, and Saha tried something impossible from the save that Jaskelienen saved easily. Osman even got a powerful shot in but it too was straight at Jaskelienenen.

Saha, who had been virtually useless, was finally withdrawn by Moyes, giving Vellios a full 15 mins to stretch his legs and he was soon testing the Bolton keeper. However, Bolton were increasingly determined with Everton clinging to their slender lead until Cahill did brilliantly to turn a deep cross back across goal for Vellios to drive home. Another very good goal!

Ross Barkley was given another pointless cameo, coming on in the 88th minute for Tim Cahill. Same for Magaye Gueye, who needed a few pages of instructions for his 2-minute appearance in stoppage time.

Once again, with his first choice selections denied him, it's the replacements Moyes usually overlooks who perform better as a team and produce an excellent result — and a very rare clean sheet — albeit with a huge slice of luck in playing against 10 men for most of the game.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Baines, Jagielka, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov (90+2' Gueye), Osman (Y), Fellaini, Coleman, Cahill (87' Barkley), Saha (75' Vellios).
Subs: Mucha, Stracqualursi, Mustafi, McAleny.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

• Full Match Report

---

---

Reader Comments (68)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

About these ads