Season › 2012-13 › News
Blues hold on for vital win
Everton 2 - 1 West Bromwich Albion
The Blues led at the break thanks to a beautiful Leighton Baines strike from 18 yards and a typically confident penalty from the same player but despite their relative comfort, David Moyes's side couldn't add to their tally and handed the Baggies an unnecessary lifeline.
Indeed, having had almost nothing to do for over an hour, Tim Howard's first real involvement in proceedings was to pick the ball out of the back of the net with 25 minutes to go and a combination of the visitors' lack of attacking threat and adequate defensive work by Everton's back line for the remainder of the game would leave the American mostly untested throughout.
The same could not be said for Ben Foster in the Albion goal who was relieved to see Kevin Mirallas, a surprise starter after being withdrawn early from Saturday's FA Cup win at Bolton, drag a 25-yard effort wide and then Marouane Fellaini's 20th-minute strike rattle off the outside of the angle of crossbar and post.
The visitors' goalkeeper was powerless, however, to stop the opener when it arrived just before the half-hour mark. Leon Osman played a nicely-weighted through-pass into the path of the over-lapping Baines and he smashed a sublime shot inside the near post from just inside the penalty area.
And the England international was handed the opportunity to double both his tally and Everton's lead when Claudio Yakob, recently on as a replacement for the injured Thorne, clumsily hauled Victor Anichebe down in the box leaving referee Michael Oliver with little choice but to point to the spot. Baines did the rest with typical aplomb and the Blues led 2-0 at the interval.
With that platform, Moyes might have expected his charges to press on in the second half and put the game to bed but they emerged from half time a little sluggishly and, not surprisingly given their predicament, West Brom began to have more or the possession and do more of the probing.
It was Everton, though, who continued to carry the greater threat and Pienaar sent Mirallas away down the left channel but Foster beat the Belgian's shot behind after he had turned the closest defender.
Clarke's first change after an hour was an attempt to bolster his side's attacking options as he removed James Morrison in favour of Shane Long and the substitute pounced to capitalise on an awful double error by Heitinga within minutes of being introduced.
The Dutchman completely lost Lukaku, allowing the Belgian striker to steal in behind him but having won the gamble when the striker choked his shot and the ball came to him on the goal-line, Heitinga turned a routine clearance off the line turned into an awkward attempt to half-volley clear and Long nodded the ball home before he could get a boot on it.
Moyes responded by taking off Mirallas, who had looked lively, a little rusty, but surely relieved to have come through an hour's action unscathed, and threw on Gibson to tighten things up in midfield, where all of Pienaar, Phil Neville, Fellaini and Osman were keeping the home fans on edge with sloppy play in possession,
It almost disaster a couple of minutes later, though, when Dorrans smashed a direct free kick off the face of the crossbar as the home started started to rock a little defensively.
Still, Everton pushed forward looking for a killer third goal and penalty claims erupted again from the home fans when Yakob appeared to drag Anichebe down and in the ensuing melee, Osman almost turned a loose ball home but it was a yard too far in front of him.
With the home fans re-finding their voice, Osman then danced his way past a flailing challenge and let fly from 20 yards but his left-foot shot was always rising over the bar. And after Dorrans had fouled Baines on the left edge of the area and set up a free kick opporutnity, Foster had to be alert to palm Pienaar's shot over the bar as it threatened to creep under the bar.
3-1 arrived on a gilt-edged platter soon afterwards after two Pienaar shots were stopped by Foster and then a defender but with the goal yawning in front of him Osman, presumably looking to steer it above any attempted blocks, somehow managed to put the shot over the bar when it was almost inconceivable to miss the target.
Thankfully, it wouldn't matter, and though the slender lead made it a less-than-easy finale, Everton were fairly comfortable while Albion resorted through desperation to launching the ball forward in the closing stages.
So, three vital points that gets the team back to winning ways after two goalless draws in the League, pulls them within one point of Tottenham in fourth and provides a timely boost in morale. Better still, both Gibson and Mirallas made successful returns from injury and while Nikica Jelavic, benched for the first time this season as his goal drought continues, wasn't able to make any impact as a late substitute, things are certainly looking bright at Goodison Park as the Blues prepare for a second successive home game against Aston Villa on Saturday.
Starting XI: Howard, Jagielka, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Neville, Osman, Pienaar, Fellaini, Mirallas, Anichebe
Subs: Mucha, Gibson, Jelavic, Oviedo, Naismith, Hitzlsperger, Gueye
Reader Comments (113)
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
2 Posted 30/01/2013 at 18:57:48
3 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:03:03
4 Posted 30/01/2013 at 18:59:33
COYB!
7 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:02:50
Heitinga's playing - but where? Defensive mid with Neville RB, I imagine.
8 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:14:49
9 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:12:38
If Heitiga is in the back four IMO its a serious mistake taking Jags out of the middle to play rb.
I would have liked to try Oviedo as the holding MF instead of Pip.
10 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:16:21
11 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:17:44
12 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:21:54
13 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:27:05
...rather than a winger at centre forward, a centre forward on the wing, a right back in midfield and a central defender at right back...
14 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:46:44
15 Posted 30/01/2013 at 19:42:19
I'm sure Mirallas favored position is up front top scorer in the Turkish league last year, but why not two up front more than possible if he had played Oviedo instead of Neville putting him on the left and pushing Pinaar right.
16 Posted 30/01/2013 at 20:17:19
17 Posted 30/01/2013 at 20:34:58
Looking at the othergames, would be great to see Norwich take some points of Spurs. However, undecided about what would be best for us between spurs and Arsenal, maybe a draw?
18 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:25:27
19 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:42:14
20 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:41:13
21 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:40:51
And we are far too wasteful in respect of how many opportunities we need to convert a goal.
22 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:46:14
Far to casual from Johnny but that says everything about him to me. He does something good (Bolton) and thinks he's world class.
Stupid mistakes may cost us this season.
23 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:50:07
24 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:51:18
25 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:52:55
26 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:56:20
I admit it would be nice to win a game comfortably, but honestly this is Everton and they don't make it easy for us Evertonians. COYB
27 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:59:14
Another positive set of results on Saturday will help with the hard run of games after that.
28 Posted 30/01/2013 at 21:58:39
29 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:11:09
30 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:08:35
WE WON!! and against a top half as well! And look at the table, 5 behind Chelsea, 1 behind Spurs, 3 ahead of Arsenal, and 6 in front of Liverpool, thats how important this win was.
Now, a couple of signings tomorrow, a win on Saturday then a very fine week indeed!
31 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:06:11
The slight disappointment is probably because we threatened to win easily but it didn't materialise. We were solid though and looked the more likely team to score later on. I'm happy enough with that.
32 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:10:12
33 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:04:36
34 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:14:37
35 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:16:37
36 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:16:37
37 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:17:48
38 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:20:16
39 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:17:14
40 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:21:43
41 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:25:59
42 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:30:33
43 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:16:34
44 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:28:27
Pienaar and Baines looked back to their best, Osman (miss aside) was composure personified, and Mirallas and Gibson both got game time, what's the problem?
Once again, Everton's problems do not just exist in a vacuum. Liverpool threw away a 2-goal lead and defended for most of the game, Chelsea threw away a 2-goal lead, Spurs drew, Arsenal drew at home, but yeah we're the only side that doesn't do what 'top' sides do.
45 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:33:32
46 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:30:23
Yes, he needs to sharpen up. You would disagree?
47 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:35:01
48 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:27:47
As soon as I see JH in the team I get nervous even before kick off. He is shot to pieces defensively and the goal he gave away was not his only mistake. If Duffy is not better than him then he should change jobs!!
I really hope that we can sign a consistent right fullback and get Jags back into the centre of defence asap. It's a shame that we are within touching distance of the champions league and have such a shallow squad. None of our youngsters are making the grade, they should be pushing for places.
Why did DM not put Neville back to fullback and leave Heitinga on the bench? Putting Oviedo in midfield would have been a better option surely.
Let's hope that a couple of rabbits are still in the hat before this window closes. God damn this board for leaving negotiations so late every time there is a window. We really need to strengthen the squad so that we can really push on, our competitors are there to be taken!!
49 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:39:53
Besides who could/should have played, why wasn't Jag in the middle and Heitinga at right back?
50 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:52:19
Because Jags is very quick and will nullify their opposing winger. Certainly not the best option but the only one with our holding midfielder injured and 2 right backs out also.
I will be so much more confident in clean sheets when Hibbo returns and we can get back our best back four.
51 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:43:23
52 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:48:22
53 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:59:25
You have a point but Jags is better in the air and up for the physical battle more. It was never going to be ideal who ever played right back but I don't see the sense in taking your best centre half out of the middle.
54 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:01:56
55 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:01:00
56 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:08:58
57 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:08:24
Every time I watch him I think he is the best player on the park, from both sides. That's a rare compliment to a left back, but he is usually a class above anyone else. A different type of person and he'd be playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, thankfully he already is.
58 Posted 30/01/2013 at 22:51:57
The fuck up with the transfer was defo for the gullible. Everton were never going to buy this guy, it was always a con. Call it political, but it was at the end of the day a con. Thanks Bill.
By the way, was that ok for you mods, I mean I wasn't over the top with political incorrectness. Just seen the Osman miss. What is it with these girls? Is it all about side foot, I mean cant footballers today put their foot through the ball like laces first. Like I say what a bunch of fuckin girls......
59 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:14:18
60 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:08:57
Mirallas gave us something different down the left, and is badly needed to mix our play up. Baines was back to his imperious best after a couple of average games.
I wish Ossie would have planted that chance after riding two tackles that tried to take him out, Messiesque!!
61 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:14:57
62 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:21:31
63 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:25:23
64 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:19:48
"Only concern was lack of bodies in the box when we got it out wide"
So it was no a concern that our centre back gave away a goal worthy of pub team, or that when it comes to chaces we must be one of the least clinical team in the EPL? You did not see the sitter that Ozzy missed?
65 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:20:49
All in all a good night's work and BTW, someone should tell Barry Horne that he's not commentating on Everton TV or Radio Merseyside.
66 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:26:29
67 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:22:18
68 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:27:37
On the transfer front though........
69 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:08:02
Out of 3 big uncertainties (Moyes, Fellaini, Baines) for EFC future I am now convinced that he is the top priority to keep (followed closely by Moyes and with Fellaini a distant third). Put another way, he would be my first pick of the 3 if I was any one of the Champions League usuals.
70 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:30:31
71 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:36:33
If we fail, we sell Fellaini for £30m anyway so where's the risk?
72 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:43:56
73 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:52:08
People on here slaughter Jelavic and Naismith but Osman escapes because of his quick feet... ha ha – not that quick when he is missing sitters your nan would bury. If the Reading sitter wasn't enough, now this after the St Mary's horror show and woeful display at Bolton.
More worrying is Osman is coaching at Finch Farm with Neville... Gulp! How and why do these two continue to get a shirt?
74 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:57:40
75 Posted 30/01/2013 at 23:28:37
76 Posted 31/01/2013 at 00:02:10
77 Posted 31/01/2013 at 00:10:22
I agree with what you say. I think we have an overall problem here. The defence was weakened because Gibson is not a starter and Moyes wants to push Fellaini further up. Solution? Captain Pip who, for me, is a much better full back than he is a centre midfielder but he is a better centre midfielder than Jags or Johnny. That means our defence gets re-shuffled.
Neville has been lucky to get games this season but only has because Hibbert, Gibson and Coleman are out.
Football hey? For years we got away with one left back but this season we are struggling despite having 3 right backs on our books!
78 Posted 31/01/2013 at 00:19:22
79 Posted 31/01/2013 at 00:22:22
80 Posted 31/01/2013 at 00:41:01
81 Posted 31/01/2013 at 01:55:19
And if Moyes really needs Pips vision in the middle why not play Heitinga right back and Jags centre half? I'm pretty sure Johnny played right back for Atletico Madrid and for Holland. But hey, what do I know? Surely with Gibson back, it's the last we will see of Phil in the middle of the park.
82 Posted 31/01/2013 at 02:36:48
Some madness being spoken on here though. True, the game wasn't the most fluid or exciting event this century, but as soon as Baines scored we were going to win.
Pienaar and Mirallas switched sides a fair bit which shows that Moyes can let the team move, and Victor worked his bollocks off all night, and won a very good penalty.
I'm not going to let the fact that I'm Johnny's biggest fan get in the way here: his cock up was a bad touch, but had he controlled the ball better there would have been no problem. Also, I think Long came from behind Distin so Heitinga wouldn't have seen him coming in his peripheral vision. It was still a terrible mistake and it will affect him no doubt. I don't think it was as bad as Osman's miss though, but giving goals away is always worse than missing scoring them, especially when you're winning. That said, as long as Osman wasn't trying to score a goal, he was quite good tonight.
Lastly, I watched the game with my West Ham mate, so he knows bad football when he sees it. Every time Neville got the ball he cracked up laughing, saying how when he goes near that ball he knows something bad is going to happen. Our captain's constant selection in the midfield is becoming a parody of itself, and he should either play RB, or go manage Yeovil Town.
83 Posted 31/01/2013 at 03:40:06
84 Posted 31/01/2013 at 05:01:30
86 Posted 31/01/2013 at 05:24:12
87 Posted 31/01/2013 at 07:05:39
Well done to the Toffees tonite... another fine result and the other results round about help to. We are really looking as good as I've seen us in as many years (imo) and as we've also started well which is even better, onwards and upwards for the Toffees and Celtic. Hail, hail to the Everton.
88 Posted 31/01/2013 at 07:00:07
He gets turned to easily, and let's in to many shots, crosses and gives away penalties from the same point.
89 Posted 31/01/2013 at 07:20:52
Mirallas and Gibson seemed to survive.
Anichebe did well, winning the crucial penalty.
Baines back to his best
3 points for us and a draw for the rivals
Negatives-
Heitinga looks a potential liability, a slow Joseph Yobo?
Neville way too many errors
Osman should have about 10 goals this season!
90 Posted 31/01/2013 at 07:48:40
Makes Brett Angell look like Messi
91 Posted 31/01/2013 at 07:58:57
92 Posted 31/01/2013 at 08:09:05
93 Posted 31/01/2013 at 08:22:03
94 Posted 31/01/2013 at 08:08:52
95 Posted 31/01/2013 at 08:36:32
If Heitinga hadn't made the decision to get good contact with his wrong foot instead of possible poor contact with the outside of his good foot, we wouldn't have this arguement. Give him credit for getting back, these swing and hope hail mary goal line clearances are all in the lap of the gods.
You're letting your frustration get the better of you, do not give in to the anger of the darkside.
96 Posted 31/01/2013 at 09:08:57
Why why why doesn't Moyes use his bench effectively? Try Shane Duffy instead of Heitinga. Why no Oviedo again? Give Vellios a run-out. Does David Moyes feel guilty for dropping Jelavic? He brings him on as sub and it was pathetic to watch.
We need to be introducing our youngsters before our starting 11 start drawing their pensions. We have one of the oldest starting 11 in the Premiership - I believe 2nd oldest to Fulham.
Give youth a chance!
97 Posted 31/01/2013 at 10:13:19
98 Posted 31/01/2013 at 10:15:22
And great to see development in Victor after all these years. Well done Moyesy for working on him and sticking with him.
99 Posted 31/01/2013 at 10:44:25
100 Posted 31/01/2013 at 10:35:20
I am entitled to express my view. If I am not mistaken that what the post-match forum is for?
And if you think it was "a good team performance", fair enough, but I'd hate to think what you would consider to be painfully mediocre performance.
101 Posted 31/01/2013 at 11:00:31
Anichebe - worked hard (unusually) but offered nothing else - gets praise
102 Posted 31/01/2013 at 11:07:49
103 Posted 31/01/2013 at 10:57:49
Time wasting from the 17th minute shows what their game plan was. Sit deep and try and get us on the break. All the teams below us are now attempting to do an "Everton" to us, defend well and hope for a goal on the break.
I see Predictable Potty Peter is still finding something to slag Moyes off after another win.
Marshy, Osman probably gets a shirt due to inch perfect passes to his own man to set up a goal, granted it was about 30% Osman 70% Baines.
104 Posted 31/01/2013 at 11:16:35
I think "won a penalty" is a bit much, it makes it sound like he dazzled the defender into making a mistake. I think "the defender gave away a pen" is a bit more accurate. Other than running more than normal, did he show an ounce of quality? He could have scored when the keeper spilled the ball into the 6-yard box but Anichebe was too busy doing his usual remonstrating to the ref with his head in his hands to notice the ball and open goal was behind him.
105 Posted 31/01/2013 at 11:44:31
106 Posted 31/01/2013 at 11:13:42
"Heitinga's best aspect" - his extremely late tackle on Lady Boy during the last world cup final, then whispering some friendly words whilst Lady Boy awaits the medics. Quality, and he only got a yellow card!!!!
On last nights game, well firstly it was extremely quite at GP, fucking quiet to be exact. The fans are expecting something big and they want it, but teams like Albion can make it difficult, so what starts as a dig from the stands suddenly becomes total fucking abuse (Neville must have to put ear plugs in prior to kick off because that boy takes a shite load of shit from the stands).
But hey, the Baines boy put's everything right and the fans can now sit there as as happy as the day is long - though obviously Everton are Everton and you can fuck right off with an easy 3 or 4 nil win and resting key players after 60 odd minutes. Not on your life, lets have it the Everton way, enter Heitinga for the usual comedy classic.
Anyways, next up is Villa, more of the same I feel though Gibson will probably give Neville ear's a break and we may actually look more organised.
107 Posted 31/01/2013 at 12:06:09
I also thought Moyes made a good, and brave, decision to omit Jelavic.
"Tactical Ineptitude," according to Peter Barry...
(Or, back on planet Earth, Lukaku kept very quiet, and 63% possession for the Blues).
108 Posted 31/01/2013 at 12:01:19
109 Posted 31/01/2013 at 12:36:59
110 Posted 31/01/2013 at 13:19:16
Another 3 points against the Premier League whipping boys on Saturday please.
111 Posted 31/01/2013 at 14:42:40
113 Posted 31/01/2013 at 14:43:58
114 Posted 31/01/2013 at 15:41:02
While I can say I agree with all the players Moyes selected and the positions they played in but they won the game with a decent performance other than the 10-min wobble after conceding. Also all the other results more or less went our way, what is there to moan about?
115 Posted 31/01/2013 at 15:52:46
116 Posted 31/01/2013 at 15:55:11
117 Posted 31/01/2013 at 15:39:29
Passing much slicker and purposeful in the main, with enough creativity from different players to overcome their attempts to stifle our left-hand side. Relatively few attempts on goal but with a lot of activity in the final third and their penalty area very nearly leading to something. Defensively comfortable for the vast majority of the game, restricting them to a few break-outs and potshots, unfortunately marred by JH's 'comedy' moment.
A few comments on key individuals:
JH - lacks pace and not the bravest but he is a more accomplished passer than Jags or Distin. Apart from his glaring mistake I don't think he had a bad or ineffectual game. I thought he had somehow arranged to not play right-back for us as he doesn't like the position. Last night Jerome Thomas would have had a field day if he was up against Heitinga rather than Jags.
KM - looked lively and positive and definitely gives us another dimension when he plays. Needs to look up to see what else is on instead of trying to finish things himself at time, but hopefully this will improve if he stays fit and has an extended run in the side.
VA - applied himself well but I have to agree with those who question whether he really did any more than Jelavic has been doing lately. Apart from one incident when he failed to really have a go at a ball that was there to be played towards goal I thought Jelavic did okay when he came on, carrying the ball well and looking to get into the right positions.
MF - No one else has commented on it so was it just me who thought he wasn't playing the advanced role last night (some statements make me think people thought he did)? To me he played in a central area, with Neville left to do the majority of the defensive midfield duties and Ossie liberated to link-up with the likes of Baines, Pienaar and Mirallas. This formation means Felli can break-up attacks through the middle, pick up balls from the defenders and carry the ball forward, and still get into the opposition's penalty area on enough occasions to provide another attacking threat. I like this position for Fellaini and in my opinion it was a big reason why a lot of things looked better for us as an attacking force last night.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 30/01/2013 at 18:56:29