Friday, 20 August 2010

Everton vs Wolves

Match Preview
To say that Everton's season opener at Blackburn last weekend was a disappointment would be an understatement, not merely because it ended in defeat but also — mostly — because of the manner of it. The Blues were well below their best and could have few complaints at the result.

The first home game of the campaign, though, offers an opportunity to erase the memory of the Ewood Park debacle immediately, get points on the board and make a statement of intent in the process against a team that they really should beat handily. Perhaps significantly, they were stymied by Wolves home and away last season and as David Moyes always, there are no easy games in the Premier League anymore.

How Everton respond, though, is going to be very important. The burden of expectation won't have lifted a bit with last weekend's loss so the pressure to perorm will certainly be on in front of a demanding home crowd.

Much has been made of Moyes's less-than-adventurous team selection last week so it will be interesting to see if there are any personnel changes, particularly in right midfield and up front.

Victor Anichebe, one of the manager's options on the right wing, is still out injured and Yakubu's omission from the squad last weekend perhaps speaks volumes about the likelihood of him staying at Goodison beyond the closure of the transfer window but Moyes has options in the likes of DIniyar Bilyaletdinov, Jermaine Beckford and Magaye Gueye, as well as Jack Rodwell and John Heitinga, neither of whom made the starting line-up against Rovers.

Wolves already have a win under their belts having beaten Stoke City in their first game and they will no doubt feel that all the pressure will be on their hosts' shoulders.

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