From My Seat: Dynamo Kyiv (H)

Overall after the first thirty odd minutes of dross a good game ensued thanks to the forceful demands of the faithful and the players for taking advice from the song and did it ‘My Way’.

Europa night again and, with rain pouring down that would last the night through, we first went to the chippy then onto the Room of Nonsense for a pint and a chat. All in good form with opinions galore and everyone an expert. The main topic being would you rather lose tonight and win on Sunday? My take was "Let’s win ‘em both!"

So 7:30 comes along and being wet on the inside we ventured Goodison way to be made wet on the outside too. Plenty with head bowed against river breeze and driving rain were making the trip and on reaching Goodison Road the fat van and Blue Dragon were awash with custom. One of the lads bought a Russian hat and I got a proey – or ‘Matchday Magazine’ as they are now known – and on into the ground for an early Z-Cars and then the Uefa juggernaut takes over and seems as choreographed as a Bill Kenwright production but without entertainment.

The game started and after just a few minutes you started to wish it hadn’t as we seemed to have adopted a "slow, slow, stop" routine and it was not what the assembled wanted. Rumblings turned to abuse on 12 mins or so when, for some reason, the ball was booted out for a corner in such a way that suggested no-one was talking to each other or maybe not listening as the corner was routine but only a white shirt made a move toward it and just side-footed home. Two things struck me: who the hell was picking him up and why no-one on the post? Must be true they don’t bother with dead-ball routines, offensively or defensively. The fact it looked such a simple goal was what grated.

From this moment, on the more restless the faithful became and watching sideways and backwards passing was grim. Alcaraz under hit one and if their forward had been that bit faster we could have been two-down; as it was Howard hacked away. Then Barry was just standing with the ball and not one player showing for it... the decibels hit the roof on 34 mins. It seemed to jolt the players as tenacity and desire were noted where they had not been before.

We gained a corner and Jags got in a good header and was goal-bound except for a defender stationed on the post headed clear – it sort of hit to home to me that. Still, our tails were up now and Lukaku received the ball some 35 yds out and set off toward goal his great strength took him into combat with three defenders who variously bounced off him; the ever willing Naismith made up ground to receive a good pass from the Belgian bulldozer and, cool as you like, curled his effort around the keeper and we are all square.

From the all corners of the ground, a wake-up call until the break; we had looked as though we wanted it cup-tie fashion rather than any philosophical dream. "Keep it up!" was my cry as the whistle sounded.

Second half and from the off it did indeed look as though we were carrying on from the end of the first. The game was faster now and, where Kiev had looked comfortable, they were now starting to look vulnerable. Everton seemed to have realised the need to get in front and by as many as possible due that horrendous defending for their goal, an away goal and they have been the undoing of many a team in a second leg.

Kiev had started blatant time wasting early, causing the crowd to practice whistling. Mirallas pulled up after a chase to the junction of Bullens and Gwladys and on 63 mins limped away making way for Kone who was soon holding up the ball well and trying to find dangerous lay-offs. We were mainly getting the ball forward more quickly and not just hoofing either as some decent joined up stuff showed. I think the players now still had the sound of the verbal lashing they got first half to want to fanny about this half and to be fair they were changing minds by the minute as fans were ready to verbally reward this time.

Balls were crossed as both Coleman and Garbutt were getting forward and a couple of shots had their keeper either gathering at second attempt or just parrying them away. But time was slipping by and although much effort was being expended that little bit of craft and guile in and around the box was missing. To that end many fans minds were turning toward the introduction of Osman; strange isn’t it that some fans near me who are always telling us loudly that he is well past it and ‘shite’ were the voices most prominent in requesting his presence? Well, on 73 mins they got their wish as he replaced Barkley and almost right away it looked a good decision. He was soon trying to create triangles that got Garbutt clear for a cross as well as creating a one-two with Naismith that led to a cross that Lukaku just failed to connect with.

Osman had been on for just about 10 mins when he danced into the area and put in a cross that saw a defender raise his arm and make contact with the ball, players and fans as one yelled ‘Penalty!’ the ref agreed and pointed to the spot. After a fair spell of wrangling and posturing it was clear that at last Lukaku would take. After the ref ensured he was at last in the correct position for referees he blew his whistle, Rom sort of stuttered and staggered, the keeper flung himself to his right, Rom rolled it down the middle and his team were 2-1 up and his ground rocking and again his own ditty was sung by the same choir who told him he was a lazy idle devil. Goals change minds as well as games.

For the final eight minutes plus three added we strived hard to get one more goal to make the return leg that little bit easier but the nearest we came when Osman glanced a header across goal with Naismith just unable to make up the ground.

Final whistle and the players and the Street end have a love-in. Hope it’s a sign of times to come.

MotM – Jagielka/Lukaku

Overall after the first 30-odd minutes of dross a good game ensued thanks to the forceful demands of the faithful and the players for taking advice from the song and did it ‘My Way’.

There is a tendency for sport pages to contain a section called 5 things we learned I just hope Roberto learned two, the first being don’t impose systems on players that can’t carry them out to the level you require and secondly put them in positions they know, understand and are familiar with. I believe if he did that then the Newcastle and QPR games could get us the points to virtually ensure safety plus a solid gritty performance in Kiev that gives us another night under the lights curtesy of Uefa.

On the walk back from the game many a conversation was the manager’s position along with gaining enough points for safety and this theme was carried back in the room of nonsense and the answers were many and various with a consensus impossible. I reckon the ebb and flow will continue with each passing game allied to other results and we have not got long to wait for the next result, fascinating stuff, see you there to witness it all.

UP THE BLUES

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