Everton: Howard, Baines, Lescott, Jagielka, Hibbert, Osman, Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill, Jo
Bench: Nash, Gosling, Rodwell, Jacobsen (Hibbert), Saha (Jo), Castillo, Van der Meyde
Referee: Howard's Way
With a face full of chocolate it was off to Villa in the sun for some further revenge following the last second robbery at Goodison. Last week Moyesy mentioned that he wanted the lads to put right the wrongs of the Wigan away performance and they did in style, dishing out a 4 nil tonking, this week it was more of the same please.
It was no surprise to see the same team and it was also no surprise how the game panned out, you know the phrase, 'The Toffeemen NEVER let you down' well today it was certainly the case. Whatever the reason, the boys in blue took us on an Easter roller coaster ride. A win would take us above Villa into 5th, we also had the small matter of the FA Cup semi next Sunday so we did not want any injuries or suspensions, however I don't think anyone in the ground expected what was to follow. Although Lavo's Best Bet could have given us a clue. The man in the middle was Sir Cliff, firm but fair and a Sue Barker fan, so we knew what to expect, or did we? The game kicked off in the spring sunshiiiiiiiine and gave us no idea what we were in for. The first 15 mins did not see a shot at either end, it was mainly Villa taking the game to us, there was a worry though as Tim had flapped at a couple of crosses in true Wavy Davy style and it looked as though Moyesy had misheard Basil when he said 'thigh' injury, looked more like an eye injury which was worrying. Anyway, our first shot on target was a goal! Hayley burst down the left and put right his dodgy start to the game, whipping in a cross for Screech to tap in, cue the Toffeemen going berserk, one up and dancing in the sunshiiiine! It was to get even better.
After an iffy start we were now taking the game to Villa and carrying on where we left off against Wigan, it wasn't long before we were two up. From a corner on the left, Peanuts fired over a good one, there was mayhem in the box, all sorts of pushing and shoving but Sir Cliff was happy. Up popped Timmy springing highest of them all only to see his header crash against the bar but he was first to react and nodded in the rebound. Two up against a dodgy Villa, it looked like revenge was on the cards we duly celebrated.
Now a couple of things, Villa had not won for nine games, we have not won away since last December and they reckon you are at your most vulnerable straight after a goal, well we weren't disappointed. Tim did the hokey cokey putting himself in and then going back as again he missed a Villa cross, it landed at Barry's feet and he mis controlled but sent it across the box, two Villa's got in each others way as the ball popped up nicely for Carew who duly smashed it in past Tim and a brave Jags effort on the line. If only we could have held on to the lead, the Villa fans at two down were shell shocked but having pulled on back they were now up for it shouting 'handball' at every opportunity, the Toffeemen took the piss shouting 'Handball' in Ole-style as the blues passed the ball around.
Villa were on top now but we held out until the break and went in happy but knowing that something needed to change as we were under the cosh.
HALF TIME 1-2
We were hoping for a Moyesy bollocking or a tinkering at least to put things right. Hibbo, the white Kafu, had his hands full with Ashley Young and had been booked, another yellow and he was in danger of missing the semi, too many players were below par, Tim, Ossy, Hayley, Roger, even Captain Nev yet we were still in front and that revenge was on the cards.
Whatever Moyesy said certainly made no difference initially, it was onto the back foot and backs to the wall as Aston Villa went for the equaliser. However, relief and the return of the two goal lead was just around the corner and it came from a most unlikely source. No-one can fault the workrate of Peanuts, he drives you mad though with every other pass going astray, one thing is for sure is that he does not score enough goals (ever looked him up on You Tube and see the belters he scored for Ajax?) today he pulled out a scorcher. From a mazey run across the edge of the box he let fly and it fizzed past the ex-redshite to put us 3-1 ahead. Happy days.
So what do we then do? We allow them to score even quicker this time, less than a minute after they kicked off but courtesy of a favour from Sir Cliff. Future redshite Barry cried to Sir Cliff that he had been fouled by Timmy 20 yards out and he go the free kick. Milner duly blasted it past Tim who was rooted to his line. They were back in it now and smelling blood.It was one way traffic.
'Alright der Lars?' came on for the white Kafu so we could save the Scouser for next Sunday but it did not ave much effect on the pattern of play. With the crowd now appealling for everything it was no surprise when Sir Cliff awarded them a penalty when at the most it should have been an indirect free kick! Roger tried an overhead kick to clear the danger as Petrov advanced into the box, he nearly took his head off and a penalty was awarded. Tim dived out of the way as Barry smashed it straight down the middle. 3 all, oh shit.
To be honest from this point it was about survival, we brought on King Louis for Jo but it made little difference as Villa went for the winner. Tim redeemed himself with a late save and we held on for the point which we probably would have taken before the game but to be two in front twice in the game left a bit of a hollow feeling. On the plus side for Wembley it was another three goals, we can score for fun, on the bad side was the defending and also, unusually, Tim's wobbles. Moyesy has some work to do this week.
We went home in the sunshiiiiine thinking of what might have been, the Toffeemen NEVER let you down. Bluekipper Star Man was narrowed down to just a few, Screech did well, as did Peanuts and Hibbo, the defence were all over the place so my shout goes for Timmy Cahill, non-stop effort, always a threat from set pieces and a great goal. COYB FTRS
Full Time 3-3
No comments:
Post a Comment