From My Seat: West Ham (FA Cup)

Everton 1 - 1 West Ham United

The FA Cup 3rd Round and a game I always look forward to as the cup still means something to me, even though it seems to have been belittled by Sky only wanting to promote the Premier League and Champions League with any commitment. After our woeful festive attempts at football I wondered how many might turn up tonight and sadly it was a poor turn out.

The room of nonsense was down to the hard core and the walk up to the ground was, with just 15mins to kick-off, almost a Sunday stroll. No one to push and shove with, the Fat van had shrunk in size and the badge and scarf doorway emporium was missing all together. Only the Blue Dragon chippy looked to have bucked the trend and had a healthy queue. Into the ground, no queuing at the turnstiles and on entering the Goodison theatre row upon row of empty seats greeted us. It turned out the crowd was just over 20,000 so the club was in sync with the room of nonsense in only attracting the hard core for this one.

The team as announced was a strong one, if not a confident one and the first half was to be one of mostly West Ham domination with the Blues having the better chances and, indeed, could have and maybe should have gone in at half time in front. WHU had Downing creating from midfield and our rookie keeper had to be alert in making saves first at his near post where he got down in quick time to turn away a near post thunderbolt and then to make a fine tip over from a powerful shot from Downing. Two other chances went begging when Downing crosses flashed across goal, luckily for us without a Hammer getting a touch.

However, despite this Everton had the best chances as Lukaku, who has been rightly chastised of late, seemed to have been fired up and was putting himself about with purpose and did manage two shots that had the crowd interested. I thought that the first half, without being spectacular, was a notch up from previous performances in terms of commitment and effort. We still frustrated, with some of the defensive play leading to a touch of anxiety for those present but it was better with only Jags, Distin and Barkley looking a touch off the pace the others without being great were definitely putting in the effort to find some form even if it didn’t work out all of the time.

The crowd seemed to appreciate this to a point, with only the backward movements bringing chastisement. 0-0 at the break and not as much hostility toward manager and players as in previous games yet that feeling of ‘we will cock this up’ was always present.

We started strongly in the second half and the willingness of Lukaku and Naismith to run the channels as well as closing down WHU defenders and keeper was a welcome sign of intent which always pleases our crowd. From a good start we were to be undone just ten mins into the half when West Ham gained a corner. I read on ToffeeWeb this week someone saying we don’t practice defending set pieces so I took note tonight and from my seat I reckon we do have a method of defending whether its practised or not.

Oviedo who was easily picked out by his bright orange boots always took up the same position, as did Mirallas and the way the others were positioned across the box it looked to be zonal marking which on this particular corner it didn’t work as the cross just cleared our first man Besic in the Carsley position to be met firmly by Collins, who was on the move and powered home. So we do have a method of defending but on this occasion it did not prevent a goal so maybe back to the drawing board or just maybe the practice pitch. That goal brought silence from the home faithful and after our poor run of results the comment ‘Looks like it’s all over’ was heard from many lips.

The half trundled on and our man Robles won over a few fans with a couple of fine interventions while Besic added to his growing fan club with a whole-hearted display that included giving Nolan the Serbian stare and a bit of a coming together that saw Nolan keep his distance in the time that remained. The ref was making some odd decisions and disallowed what looked like a good goal by Lukaku which prompted a fan to tell me with some conviction that Mr Taylor is a big RS fan and he knows because he is also a referee locally.

The half continued in open fashion and chances were almost created at both ends but loose final balls did for both teams. More bad luck on the injury front as Distin limped off holding the back of his thigh to be replaced by the now fit again Stones on 70 minutes. We were pressing hard but that lack of penetration into the box was not evident and the short passing between players who were looking for an opening was not going down well with the faithful as they wanted them to stick it in the mixer and get after it and see what happens and that is as far away as you can get from the Martinez philosophy but in the end it was to pay off so maybe just maybe we can get a middle way between the two.

A last throw of the dice on 85 mins sees McGeady replace Besic who came off to a very good reception. McGeady threw himself into the fray with the fury of a man so recently severely criticised and was indeed to be part of the move that saw our injury time equaliser. We certainly didn’t lie down today or look leggy as we went hell for leather right to the death and the goal that Lukaku got was just reward and it was a good fast move that did the trick.

Barry headed forward and the ball came back and was worked out to the left where McGeady and Oviedo tangled with a defender. McGeady was to squirt the ball out of the melee for Oviedo to pounce and hit one low and hard across the box which Lukaku seemed to have it bounce off him only for him to show great reflexes and somehow become airborne to volley home to rapturous applause. The remaining few minutes were played out to the sound of a real Goodison bear pit finale, the like of which has not been heard this season. The winner didn’t come but a replay does; probably neither manager wanted it but both will take it.

MotM – Besic

Overall a frustrating night out with the last 8 minutes being the highlight. The belting out of the Lukaku song will not be lost on him and neither will the never-say-die spirit right to the end being wildly supported on the players in general. My gut feeling was that those last minutes and the equaliser may just have had a positive ring with manager and players and somehow the upcoming game against Man City is not quite as daunting.

I think the accusation that some fitness staff have left because of managerial interference may have been put to bed tonight as the Blues looked strong and fought hard right up to that 95th minute. So maybe – just maybe – we can get off the roundabout and turn Jags corner and have a reasonable second half to the season or maybe I read the green shoots of recovery wrong tonight.

Soon be Saturday so see you there and who knows what this crazy world of footy will throw up.

UP THE BLUES

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