Everton enjoyed a good workout against Accrington with a 4-1 win in their first friendly of the close season on home soil. Gibson's shot from a well-worked corner set them on their way and was followed by a textbook header close in by Anichebe. Mirallas then stroked home a nice free-kick before Accrington pulled one back following a defensive slip. All change at the break but Osman added a nice headed goal for the fourth towards the end.
Michael Kenrick
Accrington are managed by Everton old boy, James Beattie — his first venture into management, and the game was plugged as a celebration of 125 years since the formation of the Football League.
Lawrence Wilson wearing #3 for Accrington Stanley, once of Everton Academy and Reserves.
Nice passing to start, and it earned an early corner taken by Oviedo. Everton were soon in the lead with a nicely placed corner played directly to Gibson on the edge of the area and he sidefooted home.
Everton kept working on perfecting their neat passing possession game and the second goal soon came, a textbook header close in for Anichebe off a great Mirallas cross.
Everton settled into a comfortable pattern of play for teh rest of teh half until Mirallas stepped up to curl in a nice free-kick around the wall and just inside the foot of the left-hand post. But the home side got a goal back after Oviedo was beaten too easily by Hunt and he crossed well for Murphy to slot home unmarked at the back post. A bit of a 'Wigan' goal to concede, no doubt!
Wholesale changes at the break, with first glimpses of Alcaraz and Kone, with only Robles, Fellaini and Gibson staying on the pitch.
Luke Clark made a very reckless challenge on Pienaar that upset the South Africa who lashed out. Yellow card to the home player.... could have been red inn a real game. Osman then got on the end of a nice Coleman cross and planted a nice header well clear of the keeper to make it 1-4.
Everton visit the historic Lancashire football town of Accrington for their second pre-season friendly, which kicks off this evening at 7:45 pm BST. Accrington are managed by Everton old boy, James Beattie — his first venture into management, but he won't remember too many of the current Blues line-up Roberto Martinez will put through their paces.
Arouna Kone could be in line for his first outing in an Everton shirt. The Ivorian striker signed for the Blues last week and has now had his first few training sessions at Finch Farm after being afforded extra time off because of his international commitments at the end of last season.
Other players in the same situation — Seamus Coleman, Nikica Jelavic and John Heitinga — could also be involved in some way at the Crown Ground, alongg with most of the players returning from Austria.
Wednesday's game against Accrington can be seen live on EvertonTV for a fee of £3.99.
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* Everton deducted 8 pts; †Forest deducted 4 pts for PSR breachView full table
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