Report Arsenal vanquished amid the roar of Fortress Goodison Everton finally came up with a response to weeks of under-performance with a spirited performance under the lights to hand Arsene Wenger his first Premier League defeat for four months. Lyndon Lloyd 14/12/2016 36comments | Jump to last Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Everton 2 - 1 Arsenal After 10 games with just one win, the team sliding into the bottom half of the Premier League and serious questions being asked by supporters of both manager and players, Goodison Park needed to witness a big performance and a result to match.It took a little while to get going and it required the extra catalyst of conceding the first goal but by the end of 97 minutes' play, the Grand Old Lady was reverberating with excitement as only she can after one of those famous nights under her lights. If there was a sense that Evertonians were simply at the end of their tether and that the nonsense that has gone on for almost three months was going to end tonight, it was evident as the home faithful cajoled, roared and seemingly drove their side back from Alexis Sanchez's 20th-minute strike with sheer will. As the players responded, the volume and fierceness of passion from the stands rose and everything came together in the 86th minute as Ashley Williams landed the decisive blow in a pulsating contest that almost had a vicious sting in the tale for Ronald Koeman's men.It was a turn of events that seemed a distant prospect on Saturday afternoon as the Blues slumped to a 3-2 defeat at Watford amid all the anger and recriminations that followed. Koeman appeared as lost at that point as his predecessor had at times on how to revitalise his team's fortunes but a summit between players and manager, combined with a long-overdue tactical shift in attack had the desired effect in delivering a badly-needed victory. Based on his declining fortunes at West Ham and his ineffective debut against Norwich in the League Cup, Enner Valencia had largely been written off as an ill-advised deadline-day panic signing. In his fleeting substitute appearances in recent weeks, however, he had shown flashes of the difference he could make if given half a chance. At the very least, he could provide a foil for Romelu Lukaku and create space in which the Belgian could operate.The Ecuadorian wasn't deployed as a second striker but in a wider role on the opposite flank to Aaron Lennon and he proceeded to run himself into the ground for the cause in a laudably committed 79-minute display. And his efforts were matched by James McCarthy, another player whose Goodison days appeared to be numbered, but who chased, harried, chopped and harassed Arsenal all evening long alongside the ever-imperious Idrissa Gueye.Replacing the rested Gareth Barry, McCarthy provided the energy and legs that the veteran midfielder couldn't have and he rewarded his manager's faith in him.So, too, did Ross Barkley who, despite making his 100th Premier League start, still occasionally looks raw and is prone to choosing the wrong option. But there was no question that he was gripped by the importance of the game, not only for Everton but for him personally after spending the previous two games on the bench.Koeman was critical of his side's efforts in the first 20 minutes but the first 15 minutes were, by the measure of recent games, encouraging, least after Barkley had invited needless danger in only the second minute with a sloppy pass that Sanchez couldn't punish when he overhit a through-ball intended for Theo Walcott.Everton had a couple of early moments where Lukaku got free on the right hand side of the box — the second time after excellent work by Valencia — but his attempts to cut the ball back into the centre were blocked behind. And when they didn't have the ball, as they wouldn't for a long spell from around the 10-minute mark, they remained compact and dared the Gunners to try and play their way through.Unfortunately, the Blues got themselves into a mess of their own making when Valencia ran into trouble trying to dribble his way out from the back, Barkley was robbed off possession close to his own box, Williams missed Francis Coquelin with a wild lunge but connected with Gueye instead, and Jagielka upended the Arsenal midfielder right on the edge of the box.Sanchez lined up a direct free kick which he fired low at Williams and the Welshman, unable to sort his feet out, could only put a big deflection on the shot that Maarten Stekelenburg, diving to his left, could only help into the net.The remainder of the first half was characterised by Everton up building an increasing head of steam, first as a reaction to frustration from the stands to misplaced passes or unnecessarily backward movement and then as a response to passionate urgency from the fans every time they went forward. Lennon, playing down the left in the position as his lively cameo at Vicarage Road on Saturday, had one determined and skilful run but was unfortunate to slice his effort into the Park End. The same player then stabbed a snapshot wide of the other side of goal after Barkley's free kick had bobbled off Laurent Koscielny.The reward for Everton's greater commitment arrived a minute before the interval, however, when the two fullbacks combined to level the scores. Leighton Baines collected Gueye's pass down the left, turned back and then swung a wicked cross to the six-yard box where Coleman arrived to guide the ball into the far corner with a neat glancing header.Half-time provided an unwanted check to Everton's momentum and the first 10 minutes of the second period were largely uneventful until Coquelin took advantage of a slip by Coleman and Sanchez cut the ball back from the byline but Mezut à–zil, normally so deadly in such positions, cleared the bar with a sweeping left-foot shot.Goodison's fire was up a few minutes later, however, when Coquelin tripped Baines in full flight just outside the box and Mark Clattenburg bottled a decision to give a yellow card. Barkley hit the defensive wall with the resulting free kick but when he flashed a low shot past Petr Cech's left-hand post on the hour mark, the belief started flooding back into Evertonian veins.Lukaku, by turns effective in his hold-up play and pedestrian in his demeanour, sensed it and he turned on the afterburners in the 70th minute with a powerful surge past Gabriel Paulista down the left flank but the Brazilian made up the ground to deflect his attempted shot behind for a corner.With Arsenal's ever-present attacking danger — not to mention Everton nemesis Olivier Giroud who entered the fray in place of Theo Walcott with 20 minutes to go — and the Blues feeding off Goodison's “12th man”, the game could have swung either way in the last quarter of hour as legs visibly tired. A half-chance in the 72nd minute where Barkley's hard, low cross spun off Koscielny's legs but just wouldn't fall for Lukaku in front goal and then another incident 13 minutes later where Cech pulled off a reflex save from Jagielka seemed to indicate that it wasn't to be Everton's day.From the third corner in succession though Barkley finally found his range and Williams rose through a crowd of static yellow shirts to plant a downward header past the goalkeeper before wheeling away in manic celebration at what was a huge moment for player and team alike.In keeping with what had been a frenetic match at times, stoppage time almost produced high drama at both ends. It saw Jagielka sent off for a second book able offence and Arsene Wenger might still be wondering how his side didn't grab a point in the fourth minute of that added time against the Blues' 10 men.Having accelerated past his man and into the Gunners' area a couple of minutes prior, Barkley had had a great chance to drive a cross to two waiting Blue shirts who could have killed the game but he shot straight at Cech instead.Then, with the big Arsenal ‘keeper joining his attack for a corner, his opposite number Stekelenburg pawed the ball off his head and away from immediate danger. The visitors kept the ball, however, after Everton substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin had mis-kicked his attempted clearance, Alex Iwobi fed Sanchez and his flighted ball to the back post was clawed away again by the Dutch ‘keeper.Monreal's volley was blocked superbly by Ramiro Funes Mori, himself a late sub for McCarthy, and Iwobi's first-time drive was cleared off the goal line by Baines before Calvert-Lewin cleared his lines after Sanchez had gone down in the box appealing for a penalty after his challenge with Mirallas.That sent Lukaku away in a foot-race with Hector Bellerin that the Spaniard initially won but then allowed himself to be dispossessed but while Barkley collected the striker's pass as Cech was still scampering back to his line from the other end of the field, his pass to Mirallas was poor and Koscielny was able to slide it off his toe.30 seconds later, however, it was all over. Arsenal, sitting strong in second place in the table, 14 games unbeaten in the Premier League, and with pundits proclaiming Arsene Wenger had finally achieved the balance and depth in his squad to land England's biggest crown again, had been beaten in a match that so many Evertonians had written off beforehand. Time will tell if this proves to be a turning point for Koeman and Everton. Certainly, the result and spirited display that achieved it, don't immediately erase the issues underlying the awful run results that preceded it, dating all the way back to the EFL Cup defeat to Norwich in September. The play was still too direct at times, with movement in midfield and up front still lacking at times but what this win did do is prove that there is still fight and determination in this team when it is dragged out of them by their manager and supporters alike. It must surely have made more of an Evertonian of Koeman who won't have experienced anything like that since arriving at the club.It sets a benchmark of what's expected, however, and also sets Everton up perfectly for the Merseyside derby on Monday where another performance with the intensity and passion of this one will give Koeman and his men a great chance of putting one over the enemy from the across the Park. After that, they can worry about mustering the same spirit in less glamourous fixtures but one step at a time. Follow @EFCLyndon Share article: Reader Comments (36) 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 Bob Parrington 1 Posted 14/12/2016 at 08:07:12 This was one Everton game that Optus decided to show on demand in Australia. Early morning for us but, bejesus it was worth it. Thanks for the report, Lyndon, right on the ball. I was hoping Valencia would be given the chance. I think he has more to offer than many on this site are prepared to admit. Also, before the substitution was made, I was hoping Dom would be given a run. Neither of these guys let us down.I've been a Blue since 1953 and a lot of the recent stuff has been the worst I can ever remember but, like others of the same veteran status on this site, I have lived in hope that we will pull it together. This win brings back some joy and so it's been a good day!Nil Satis Nisi Optimum! COYB. Great if we beat RS next Monday and looking forward to the January window to see what we can do to strengthen the squad. Phil Walling 2 Posted 14/12/2016 at 08:54:31 Brilliant. Now let's do it again. Next Monday! Gerry Killen 3 Posted 14/12/2016 at 08:57:12 Great effort from all the lads – and RK. As I wrote yesterday, all we wanted was a 100% from everyone and get the crowd behind them. All teams are beatable, and so it turned out. Thanks to everyone for making it such a memorable night. ps: How could we possibly replicate that atmosphere in soulless new stadium on a winters night? please renovate The Old Lady – and why have they tried to cover St Luke's? It's part of our history. COYB. James Morgan 4 Posted 14/12/2016 at 09:11:32 It won't really mean much if we don't repeat it against the Red Shite. Too often we just freeze against them lot even when they are in dire straits and we are on form, it's entrenched in our psyche. If we show that level of fight and the crowd roar us on then we will have half a chance. I wouldn't change the team either, if it worked against a better side like Arsenal then it can work against the Dark Side. George McKane 5 Posted 14/12/2016 at 09:31:33 A wonderful, beautious night at Goodison. Sit back, smile and enjoy. Got in after midnight and just watched the game again this morning – Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Ray Robinson 6 Posted 14/12/2016 at 09:49:06 Great report, Lyndon – you aren't blind to the fact that it wasn't a perfect performance but seldom have I seen a more determined and passionate one from about the 20 minute in. I believe that the players suddenly realised that the crowd were 100% on their side as long as they put the required effort in. A huge pat on the back to us supporters who helped win that game through sheer passion and belief. It's nights like these that feed my drug and make me attend every match. Anyone visiting Goodison last night for the first time will be similarly addicted. Ben Dyke 7 Posted 14/12/2016 at 10:22:12 In that first very nervy, very poor opening, I was calling for Koemans head! Surely it's his responsibility to get the players playing how they should? But, slowly and surely, we became a team we can be proud of, and showing fight and bottle and aggression and bits of skill. It will take a while to forget the unbelievably poor recent performances but maybe just maybe we can trust the players and manager after all. Definitely feels better to come to work today and have something to be proud of – the performance, not just the result. Tony Abrahams 8 Posted 14/12/2016 at 10:28:42 Ray, you have put into words, how I felt last night. Ashley Williams became a different player, once he realised the fans were right behind them, and thank god I haven't subscribed to BT.I thought the match was on Sky, and didn't feel like making the 1.5-mile journey to Goodison, "Lucky Me!" Adam Luszniak 9 Posted 14/12/2016 at 10:37:30 Lyndon I admire your writing and always enjoy reading your reports; however, I'm not sure the team need to be criticised for being 'too direct' on this occasion. It is of course, a matter of opinion, but I feel there has been enough negativity and criticism of the team (admittedly oft deserved) on this site over the last few months. We were direct and physical, which to my way of thinking is the best foil for Arsenal's tippy tappy style. In particular, I thought Rom was excellent with his back to goal, which is what is required to make this more direct approach bear fruit. The team and manager deserve the plaudits for a performance which I find hard to see fault in. Let's enjoy that while it lasts! Shane Corcoran 10 Posted 14/12/2016 at 10:58:34 I bloody missed from 50 minutes onwards, i.e. the best bits.The irony of Williams scoring the winner considering how awful he was in the first half.Delighted with the result and what appears to have been fight but I fear that we might need to win on Monday to get enough momentum going to get rid of, rather than paper over, many of our cracks. Bob Parrington 11 Posted 14/12/2016 at 10:59:47 Ray (#6). Good on ya, Mate! Wish I could have been there. My last visit was vs Arsenal in March this year. I left absolutely deflated. N thousand km of flights to watch the worst ever performance I had seen from an Everton team.What a delight it was to see this win even though it was on Optus here in Oz! Thanks to the supporters in the ground ++++! Rob Teo 12 Posted 14/12/2016 at 11:20:06 Bob (#11): Surely not as bad as my one and only experience at Goodison in Aug 2009 where we got tonked by the Arse 6-1. First visit to see Everton live after travelling all the way from Australia where I was living then. I've not been back since. Sigh... Brian Garside 13 Posted 14/12/2016 at 11:38:48 After that performance, it will be interesting to see if Koeman changes a winning team for Monday. Conor Skelly 14 Posted 14/12/2016 at 11:51:18 It's lashing rain here in Dublin but luckily I have an Everton raincoat. Everyone from colleagues in work to the train conductor congratulating me.The Echo posing the question: Should we stick or twist. Stick. I don't think we would have won last night had Barry been playing. He'll get over-run against the RS. On a side note I actually thought Barkley was sensational at times last night. I liked how he was moving the ball quicker. It plays to his instincts. Barkley is at his best when he doesn't think. Great piece, Lyndon. Victor Jones 15 Posted 14/12/2016 at 11:58:34 Great three points last night. But that's all it is. Three points. Time will tell if it is actually a turning point. We've been here before .with mainly this bunch of players. Our poor start to the game , and there was me cursing and saying , here we go again. Chasing another game. WTF happened after that? Bottle that response. Bottle that next 70 minutes. And we have a team. We have a season. Did Yuri Geller wave a magic wand. Did the ghosts of Labone and Dean rise and kick start our players up the backside... Was it the crowd? Or has something finally dropped into place with these players. Arsenal were rattled .their manager was getting hells abuse on the radio last night. Its a fickle old game. Hopefully that is our slump now over. Hopefully we can now have a decent run over the Christmas fixtures .and also that upcoming cup fixture is now not looking so daunting... Its funny what one good win can do for everyone. Interesting to read about supporters first games attended at Goodison. My first game was against Burnley. We drew 1-1. And I actually liked the way Burnley played. But it was always going to be Everton for me. I was at Goodison for about ten derbies in the late 1970s and early 1980s. We got beat every time. I then missed one and we won 1-0.. I think in about 40 years. And about 20 to 30 derbies attended, I've only seen Everton beat the RS once. I've got the message. If it helps I'm staying away. COYBs Dave Lawley 16 Posted 14/12/2016 at 12:21:48 I think what we saw tonight was what can happen when we are a team defending from the front right through to the back. Lukaku, for all the goals he gets, just cannot/will not put a shift in when we don't have the ball, in Valencia tonight we had a player who was willing to put the shift in that made the team work. I think Koeman knows this and I think that could explain why he made his comments regarding Lukaku not reaching his potential if he stays at Everton, I think he was 'hint hinting' at one of the rich teams to offer 㿲 million so he has 'no choice' but to sell him and get a player (or two) who will make the team work better. At the moment Lukaku is undroppable, he's the only option we've really had upto now (although I'm hoping valencia/calvert-lewin are changing that perception) and he will score goals, but will we consistently win with him in the team? A good example of this is:- Everton win the league 84-85, buy Lineker the next season, we finish second, win nothing but Lineker scores 40 goals despite this Howard Kendall didn't think the team was playing to its strengths with Lineker in the team and were relying too heavily on him so he balls'ily sells him to Barca and Everton win the league the next season. The same thing is happening across the park with the shite: Sturridge, for all the goals he's capable of doesn't fit into how Klippety Klopp wants his team to play, so he's being fazed out. Unfortunately (until tonight) Koeman hasn't had the option to faze out the 'perceived' super star in the team, and I think if he can get a hard working CF in the transfer window he will, then faze out Lukaku (obviously he'd rather sell him for big bucks first, if he's out the team his price will go down) even if the replacement doesn't bag 20+ goals a season, I think we will see Everton win more games and goals shared out from elsewhere in the team. I'm praying he goes with the same team at the weekend, now the lads know they can rely on some hard work from up front (it took the first 20 mins of last nights game for them to realise this and what Valencia brought to the performance) and that the ball wasn't going to come straight back when played forwards. This is another massive weakness in Lukaku's game and it's reasonable to suspect this is why the players are reluctant to keep playing the ball forwards to our (usually) only forward just to see the ball come off his shin followed by the opposition breaking straight back at us with our players out of position. If that happens then I think we can go and put a shift in from the start against the shite and, win/lose/draw be proud of a performance. Brian Harrison 17 Posted 14/12/2016 at 12:22:53 Well at long last we showed some passion in our play, and boy what a difference it made. I have to admit walking to the ground last night I wasn't very optimistic, and even more so when they scored. But then everything changed; players got in the face of each of their opponent and started winning tackles, then the crowd played their part, they roared every chase, every tackle. The Goodison roar that we haven't heard a lot of lately started to lift our players and seem to sap the energy of Arsenal's players, the crowd was truly the 12th man. Every player played their part, and I have to say I was amazed by McCarthy's performance he was outstanding I didn't think he still had that in him. I only hope that his performance was to impress Koeman and not Ireland's assistant manager who was sitting in the stands. Mind, if it was to impress Roy Keane maybe we should ask him to attend all our games.Barkley put in his best performance for a very long time, and nobody could fail to be impressed by Valencia's work rate, a high energy performance.I did post yesterday and say that Arsenal don't like to be involved in physical games as they often lose these type of games. I hoped we would make it a physical game and after their goal that's exactly what we did. So now, guys, that's the benchmark I want to see every player walk off the pitch with nothing left to give as they did last night. Steve Guy 18 Posted 14/12/2016 at 13:01:59 Not a lot to add to comments about a game that helped restore my faith in many of these players.Possibly a note to Southampton supporters who apparently couldn't understand why Koeman would desert them for Everton... THAT'S WHY!!! If you ever get that level of passion from the terraces you may in a hundred years time be at our level as a Club Peter Roberts 19 Posted 14/12/2016 at 13:05:57 Valencia set the tone up front, McCarthy and Gana enforced the midfield and Seamus was a leader at the back. More of the same please. Valencia must start against Liverpool – simple as that. John Raftery 20 Posted 14/12/2016 at 13:27:21 That was by a considerable distance the best performance and result in the league for over 18 months. As others have said, James McCarthy was tremendous in midfield giving us a physical edge which we have missed in recent months. I agree there were flaws evident again most notably in defence with Valencia and Williams culpable for the first goal and at times we lacked poise and craft in midfield. But, once we pushed up and started moving the ball forward quickly, we created opportunities with Lennon and Valencia both making runs off Lukaku who competed well in the middle with Koscielny and Gabriel. The last minute escape with shots blocked on the line was fully deserved and just reward for 100% effort from the whole team. That level of effort will do for now; the skill and craft can come later.As Brian Clough used to say about his own teams, they will be okay providing they don't start thinking they are a good team. Mike Gaynes 21 Posted 14/12/2016 at 15:46:00 I'd add another name to the honor roll for this one – Barkley. We saw a level of commitment from him that we hadn't even glimpsed this season. I have opined often that this team frequently plays better without him, but on this day Ross was closing down hard on the ball and sprinting back to help cover Baines when he went up. He still had some blunders... no idea what he was thinking on that final rush to the empty goal... but his cross-field passing was generally excellent and, for the first time in months, he truly earned his place. Lyndon Lloyd 22 Posted 14/12/2016 at 16:08:57 Adam (#9), I appreciate where you're coming from but the constructive criticism of pointing out that simply belting the ball forward to a striker that doesn't win many aerial duels and gifting possession back to a team that is very good with the ball isn't negative.It's pointing out where, in my view, the team can clearly improve as Koeman continues to build and mould it. That shouldn't detract from what was a long-overdue show of passion and fight or the fact that the game was won in the air with accurate deliveries. Vinny Garstrokes 23 Posted 14/12/2016 at 16:49:52 I think that we have good leadership on the pitch at the moment. Last night we had Jags, Williams and Coleman all displaying great leadership qualities and we also have Barry when not rested/dropped. This can make a huge difference when the chips are down. If we manage to retain Seamus beyond this season, then he should be made full time captain as the others enter the winters of their careers. Tony Hill 24 Posted 14/12/2016 at 16:53:22 Barkley's mobility and ease in possession were excellent, I thought, last night. The smoothness with which he went past opponents and switched play was great to see – that's what's been lacking for so long and it seemed to me as though he was switched on again. The shot which went narrowly wide was another reminder of what he can do.Not perfect, of course, and he has to maintain this form, but I am genuinely surprised by comments which say his performance still showed him to be a disappointment or problem.Rumours that Spurs are after him. Bollocks, I trust, but there will be no shortage of clubs who know his talent and who will have been taking careful note last night. Jim Wilson 25 Posted 14/12/2016 at 18:35:37 The idiots in the crowd started to have a go at McCarthy for one pass backwards but I think he then showed how good he is to keep them quiet for a good while. I like his partnership with Gueye.A couple of mistakes from Barkley; otherwise an encouraging performance. Rob Lloyd 26 Posted 14/12/2016 at 18:46:19 Great report Lyndon but I have to nit-pick slightly – the decisive blow came not from Williams, but from Baines off the line! Nicholas Ryan 27 Posted 14/12/2016 at 21:09:02 How would I describe Arsenal? "...They don't like it up 'em, Mr. Mainwaring... they don't like it up 'em!" Andy Williams 28 Posted 14/12/2016 at 21:11:06 Peter (19) you beat me to it. But I think Seamus should be captain now. He is not afraid to tell anyone on the team where they are going wrong and his spirit and energy is equal to anyone. Add in the fact that he seems to be back to his best I would make him skipper immediately. Jimmy Salt 29 Posted 15/12/2016 at 07:26:54 First game of the season for me.Great to see the passion return.And Gana was immense. Dave Abrahams 30 Posted 15/12/2016 at 09:25:56 Tony (#8) 'I didn't feel like going to the match' – you what!Good job you've already had your birthday money and Christmas box, what have I reared !!!! It will take me a long time to get over that, 'I didn't feel like going to the match'. Don't fuckin' believe it!!! Barry Jones 31 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:36:01 Bob, I was over from Canada and in the crowd in 2009 vs Arsenal (6-1 to Arsenal) so don't feel too bad. Barry Jones 32 Posted 15/12/2016 at 14:42:37 Dave (#16), spot on. And on the subject of being direct and aggressive, at this point in time, whatever it takes to win. Winning will restore confidence in the team and from the fans, and the flowing football will follow that. Phil Parker 33 Posted 15/12/2016 at 16:37:54 Great that it was Ashley Williams who got the winner. As for the first half-hour, he played like Ron Yeats with ten pints down him. Our manager and new players may have been wondering what was so special about playing for the Moonlight Dribblers... Now they know. It was a proper Everton night. Big thumbs up to all concerned. Now keep it going. Paul Birmingham 34 Posted 16/12/2016 at 21:47:54 Repeat the 21-94 mins attitude from the Arsenal and out-think the Red Shite. It's ours if we want it, their level and ours remains to be decided on the pitch. Off the pitch, perhaps they think they just have to turn up. I sense they think they have to turn up, but Rom is loaded to make an impression on this game. Klopp is no mug, but we must fight every inch from 0 - 97(?) minutes as I reckon the referee will be an interesting adage to this game. "What's Our Name?" Mike Dolan 35 Posted 18/12/2016 at 02:26:52 It was like the guilder dropped and the team was suddenly connected. I thought it was the best performance of the season by far. McCarthy buzzing around in front of the defense which seemed to gain the confidence to play higher and Valencia grafting up front were both huge. More options in midfield because we shortened the field. I have never seen Barkley more aggressive; he was battling out there. He was sublime at times. This to me looked like a Koeman team I really don't know if we have the players to maintain the level of passion and performance that we saw against Arsenal but maybe the ironic fact that it is easier to work hard for the team and win than to work for yourself and lose . We have an excellent coach; we have in Coleman, Baines, Barkley, Gana, Holgate, maybe Davis a few players to build around. (I would love to add Duelofeu to that list because if he ever committed himself he would be a world beater.) Keep the faith, Blues. We are heading in the right direction but it's going to take time. Paul Birmingham 36 Posted 20/12/2016 at 00:30:00 C'est La Vie, La Vie C'est La Vie. There's a desperate stench and air of gloom building and this in all was a piss-poor match but the RS had more guile and guts and wanted it more. To go 45 mins with not even a pot shot in a derby is the pits! Rant over and hopefully this squad will wake up and stop feeling sorry for themselves. It's Walt Smith time again? 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