The Tigers made it seven points from three home games with a hard fought win over Everton at the KC Stadium. When City led three-nil after half an hour, we may have thought that just for once, we’d have been spared the finger-nail chewing in added time but again it was not to be. After squandering two thirds of the lead, it took a gutsy last twenty minutes for the Tigers to earn three precious points.
David Moyes is always keen to let the press know how many injuries and suspensions Everton have and they do have an entire midfield on the sidelines, along with an England international centre half. They are one of these clubs who love to tell anyone who’ll listen how small their squad is and how little money they have to spend. Yet despite their five major absentees, tonight they fielded a team of 9 full internationals and 2 U21 internationals who cost combined fees of just over £40m (compared to the £10m it took to put together the Tigers first team). This was a tough test for the Tigers and they went about it well.
The Gaffer
The big talking point before hand was the exclusion of Jimmy Bullard. As far as I’m aware, he was “rested” but you’ve got to imagine that if he could’ve played, he would have, so I suspect some sort of knock. George Boateng replaced him in the midfield, McShane replaced the suspended Mendy and Geo returned up front as Fagan has a rib injury. I’d imagine that if Fagan had been fit, then either he or Geo would have played wide right. I thought the team outfield was the right one again, it had nice balance and PB didn’t make changes for the sake of it. Boaz should have been in goal though. If he’s fit, he should be in, there is no way anyone can justify any other decision. The substitutions all made sense and came at the right time. Though if Baines had scored deep into stoppage time following Kilbane’s foul, that opinion may have changed!
The Defence
In the first half, we were absolutely superb; Saha and Yakubu barely had a kick. Zayatte was the pick of the four, he was excellent. He won every header and tackle, put himself in the right place at the right time and brought the ball out well. He was a gnat’s whisker away from making it four nil just before half time. We were well protected by the midfield, particularly in the centre and we didn’t leave a lot of space between our two lines for Everton to exploit. Garcia and Hunt worked hard not only to defend wide but to follow Rodwell and Pienaar when they came in off the line. Aside from a Distin header that flew over, it’s hard to recall an Everton chance in the half.
After the break, they came out fired up, as you’d expect, and we needed to keep them quiet for 15 minutes so as not to give them any encouragement. Duke got down well to save a Cahill snap shot and we looked pretty comfortable until Zayatte swiped at a harmless cross to score one of the lamest O.G’s on record. Following the goal, we settled well again and had our share of the possession and a couple of chances but we were undone again by another stupid goal. Saha pulled off Zayatte and set himself up beautifully at the far post from a harmless looking ball forward. I couldn’t really see whether there was contact but Zayatte dived in and didn’t appear to get the ball and thus conceded a penalty which Saha tucked away neatly. Zayatte’s first half performance was a 9/10. The first 20 minutes of the second half was 1/10.
Despite City sitting on the lead a little and making substitutions that were designed more to protect the lead rather than extend it, we didn’t come under that much pressure at 3-2, though it didn’t feel like it at the time. Duke didn’t really have a shot to save though he did cause a scramble in the box with a feeble attempt to take a cross. The two centre halves stood up and were counted, Zayatte being particularly impressive because the O.G. and the penalty would’ve crushed a lesser man. Dawson and McShane played their part with some crucial interceptions. McShane seemed to spend the last 20 minutes informing Cahill that he was going to have him in the tunnel after the Aussie caught him with an elbow off the ball. McShane also made a lovely run forward down the left and drifted past Baines with a superb bit of skill. That is not a misprint (nor was it the biggest miracle of the night!).
On 87 minutes, Duke chose a fine time to come and take his first clean catch of the night which along with some crucial interceptions from Boateng, and Barmby’s ability to find touch in the corner helped alleviate the pressure. In the third minute of stoppage time, Kilbane conceded a free-kick on the edge of the box (though he and his teammates crowded the ref to insist it was a dive). Fortunately for us, Leighton Baines doesn’t take a last minute free-kick like Danny Whittaker of Macclesfield Town and heartbreak was avoided.
The Middle
There can’t have been many people inside the KC who wanted to remember what a Bullard-less City midfield looked like. What followed was a pleasant surprise. After a terrible opening 9 minutes, in which City failed to put two passes together and generally looked like the rag bag outfit we were before the returns of Bullard and Pearson, we scored with our first decent bit of football and then settled nicely into the game. Boateng and Marney won almost every challenge in the middle and picked up a good percentage of the loose balls they fought for. We moved the ball quickly and simply, everyone joined in and Everton didn’t really have an answer for the energy on display from Marney and Hunt.
Hunt was excellent. As the song goes “he’s here there and every-bleeping-where”. He got down the left wing to cross for Altidore in the run up to the first goal, and then followed up Jozy’s shot to smash the ball into the net. He then made the third goal from the right wing, though there was a slice of luck as both the cross and Marney’s shot were deflected. I promised you a miracle and, yes, that was it. Dean Marney scored a premier league goal. On the night, it was no more than he deserved as he put in an all action display, showing great ability to carry, pass and win the ball. He looked fitter and faster than his oppo’s and for once, he put all that energy to good use.
Everyone seemed to benefit from George Boateng’s experience and ability to win the ball. He did a terrific job, using his uncanny ability to put himself between opponent and ball to keep possession and win free-kicks. He looked pretty fresh throughout as opposed to the leaden footer we saw too often last season. In the last 10 minutes, he stood up brilliantly to their threat and led everyone in closing down anyone who dared cross into our territory.
Garcia made up our midfield foursome and had a much better game than he has in the last couple of games. He struggled to keep his feet early on, every time he turned to the left, he lost his grip. It reminded me of a car I used to own. As well as protecting McShane, he proved very useful in the air and won countless headers, both attacking and defensive. We didn’t seem him carry the ball too often but when he did, he got into some decent crossing positions and forced a fine save from Howard. He’s looking fitter but still tired in the second half. Barmby replaced him and did a nice job of helping to wind down the clock and keep the ball well away from our goal.
The Front Line
Jozy Altidore led the line again and did it very well. His touch is occasionally heavy but generally the ball stuck to him and he brought people into the game. He was unlucky not to score again, lashing in a terrific shot that Howard did well to parry, following a superb piece of control in the area. I’d like to see more of him turning and running at defenders because he looks a threat when he does. He also needs to add a little aggression to his game, he stands up well to most challenges with defenders but does back out of the odd one rather than risk hurting someone or getting hurt himself.
Geo was very good alongside him too, finding space around Altidore and linking up nicely with Hunt and Marney. He looked hungry for goals and some of his direct running at the box was great. To be critical, he really should have played Hunt in on goal when he chose to go left to Altidore and gave the ball away. That should have made it 4-1 to us and within seconds it was 3-2.
Big Jan made his usual appearance from the bench, replacing Altidore, to try and help us keep the ball. He wasn’t really afforded the support or service that Altidore got when we were playing well earlier in the game so had to put in a shift trying to make something of scraps and helping out in defence. It was a smart move to put Jan and Kilbane on late on because it made us big and solid from set pieces. Speaking of set pieces, we actually displayed a couple of decent routines ourselves tonight, one of which came off and another that didn’t but always worth trying.
As its Thanksgiving tomorrow and we have two Americans (ish) in our squad, I’d like to respect their culture. I’m thankful that Martin Atkinson only invented 4 minutes of stoppage time.
I’ve saved the best for last. Andy Dawson’s free-kick was absolutely spectacular. What was obvious in the build up was that the Everton wall was very tall and it near impossible to get it over the wall and under the cross bar with enough pace to beat Howard. Dawson did it beautifully. My goal of the season, so far.
The Future
The immediate future will no doubt involve endless drivel being spoken about the Man City team talk given our return to Eastlands on Saturday. Considering the spirit, attitude and desire that our players have shown in the last month, if I hear one more terrible pundit suggest that Phil Brown “lost the dressing room” on the pitch at Man City, I’ll throttle him. Thanks to some decent results, we can now enjoy Saturday, as long as we don’t get a good hiding again. They haven’t exactly impressed recently and hopefully our guys are not feeling so much pressure now, so we might even nick a result. Sorry to be a nag after such a great result Mr. Brown, but if you happen to read this, can we have Mr. Bullard and Mr. Myhill back on Saturday? Pretty please!
Ratings: Duke 6, McShane 7, Dawson 7, Gardner 7, Zayatte 8, Garcia 7 (Barmby), Hunt 9, Boateng 8, Marney 8, Altidore 7 (JVoH), Geo 7 (Kilbane).