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 FA Premiership (7); Goodison Park, Liverpool; Sunday 28 September 2003; 3:00pm
  Watson (27', 38', 52')
Ferguson (40') 
 
Attendance: 0000
Halftime: 3-0

Facts
Reports



Referee: Paul Durkin
 

Match Summary

The game kicked off 5 mins late after a delay due to a traffic accident outside the ground.  Meanwhile, inside, Jamie McFadden was given his first Premiership start.  Unsworth played in place of the injured Pistone, and Duncan Ferguson led the line with Radzinski; Wayne Rooney was on the bench.

A fairly lively start ensued from both teams, with end-to-end stuff as the players settled.  Eyes on Unsworth, who has the job of marking Pennant.  McFadden wins an early couple of corners, Yobo tried a shot, and Gravesen driving it back in through the melee, but just wide. 

The pattern of the game was being dictated by Everton, who's wing players appeared unusually determined to take on their men and whip balls into the Leeds penalty area.  Radz got the ball in from a Stubbs shot after 15 mins but it was offside after Ferguson had neatly ripped Rocque Junior's shirt in half. 

McFadden was involved in everything, heading back a perfect ball from the far post in to Duncan but the big man could not control it and it spilled wide.  Then he showed his skill, beating three men and crossing well in front of a well entertained Goodison crowd.  Carsley nodded another one down to Radzinski, who drilled it just wide.

Finally, a great goal by Watson, with Gravesen and Ferguson in the build up, Gravesen getting the ball past Rocque Junior and Watson playing a one-two off Ferguson before he blasted an unstoppable shot into the net.

A fabulous move by Hibbert set Radzinski on his way and he did everything right but score, beating Robinson and the far post.  McFadden, a lovely ball for Radzinski to chase, Robinson beat him but the ball fell to Watson, who smashed it first time from 40 yards — a fantastic goal. 

And finally the classic combination:  From a Gravesen free-kick, Hibbert beats his man, centres superbly, Duncan Ferguson header: THREE - NIL!

Leeds rallied a little, getting a threatening free-kick that went for a corner but Ferguson was there to head the ball out defensively, much to the appreciation of the Goodison crowd who were loving this.

Watson almost goat his hat-trick just after the restart, following a triple substitution from Peter Reid.  But he was determined to do it — and finally he did.  A great move started by McFadden, rescuing a lost cause, Ferguson getting the ball in to Watson who floated the ball over Robinson to win the match ball. 

The urgency finally subsided as Everton relaxed into the final third of the game, with David Moyes bringing off the match stars, Radzinski and Watson, to a standing ovation.  Rooney then came on for the last 15 minutes and almost scored.

Rooney really should have made it five at the death when he beat Robinson but screwed a golden chance past the post.

And what a pleasure it was to finally have a proper referee who knows what he is doing and does it well.



Wayne Rooney: On the bench or in the hole?


Everton v Leeds:
Prior League Games
 Overall  
 Everton 23
 Leeds 11
 Draws 17
 Premiership  
 Everton 5
 Leeds 0
 Draws 6
 Last Season:

Everton 2-0 Leeds


Premiership Scores
Friday 26 Sep
Arsenal 3-2 Newcastle
Saturday 27 Sep
Birmingham 2-0 Portsmouth
Bolton 1-1 Wolves
Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
Leicester 1-4 Man United
So'hampton 0-1 Middlesbro'
Sunday 28 Sep
Charlton 3-2 Liverpool
Blackburn 0-2 Fulham
Everton 4-0 Leeds
Man City 0-0 Tottenham
 


Match Facts
 Everton   (4-4-2)
 Blue shirts, white shorts, blue socks
 Leeds United   (4-4-2)
Yellow shirts, yellow shorts, yellow socks
  Martyn
Hibbert
Yobo
Stubbs {c}
Unsworth
Watson (73' Kilbane)
Carsley
Gravesen
McFadden (88' Linderoth)
Ferguson
Radzinski (73' Rooney)

Subs Not Used:
Turner, Weir

Yellow Cards: —

Red Cards: —

Unavailable:

(Suspended:) Naysmith
(Injured:) Gemmill, Jeffers, Pistone, 
Osman, Simonsen, Wright

(On Loan:) Gerrard, Alexandersson
Robinson
Kelly
Roque Junior
Camara
Matteo {c}
Pennant (46' Lennon)
Johnson (46' Olembe)
Morris
Sakho (46' Bridges)
Smith
Viduka

Subs Not Used:
Carson, Harte

Yellow Cards:
Camara (67') Bridges (77')

Red Cards: —
 
Match Reports

2003-04 Match Reports Index


Everton Web Sites
ToffeeWeb Match Summary
EvertonFC.com Match Report
When Skies Are Grey Match Report
Blue Kipper Match Report
Everton Fans' Reports
None Filed Match Report
Links to Other Media Reports
Electronic Telegraph Match Report
BBC Sport Match Report
4 the Game Match Report
Sky Sports Match Report
Sporting Life Match Report
SoccerNet Match Report
The Observer Match Report
The Guardian Match Report
The Independent Match Report
Liverpool Echo Match Report
Daily Post Match Report
Premiership Table
Pos Team Pts
1 Arsenal 17
2 Chelsea 16
3 Man Utd 16
4 Birmingham 14
5 Man City 12
6 Southampton 12
7 Fulham 11
8 Liverpool 11
9 Portsmouth 9
10 Everton 8
11 Blackburn 8
12 Charlton 8
13 Aston Villa 7
14 Middlesbrough 7
15 Bolton 7
16 Leicester 5
17 Tottenham 5
18 Leeds 5
19 Newcastle 3
20 Wolves 2
After 28 Sep 2003


Match Preview

After getting back on track with a solid 3-0 victory over Stockport, which was enlightened by a very promising full debut by McFadden, we now entertain Leeds.

Make no mistake, this is a very important game and a defeat would undoubtedly have the Echo shouting "crisis" — which would be melodramatic but not too much of an over reaction.

Leeds too are having difficulties (but then so too were Middlesbrough), no more so than at the back were the signing of Rocque Junior is looking very dodgy.  Matteo may return which would certainly improve them back there.  In midfield they have pace in Pennant but lack any real commanders.  Upfront they still have quality in Viduka and commitment in Smith.  They are however, undoubtedly missing Kewell.

For us, Naysmith is suspended after his sending off against Newcastle and, despite Weir being involved in our first clean sheet of the season on Wednesday night, Stubbs and Yobo are likely to be back in harness with Hibbert and Pistone on the flanks.

Two areas where Wednesday's game will have made selection difficult for Moyes is left-midfield and centre-forward.  Can McFadden's claims be ignored?  Kilbane's signing is already looking to be the most questionable of Moyes's reign and if McFadden is given his chance I think it will mean that we see very little of the Irishman.  Upfront the options are endless but Moyes must select the right combination.

Radz has been the most dangerous of our players and Ferguson is now top scorer but how do you leave Rooney out?  Is it time that Rooney returned to the bench?  Personally I think so — where he is likely to sit alongside Jeffers, who should have recovered from a back sprain.

The defence must stop messing around; already they have thrown away too many points due to silly errors.  If we cut them out then the results will start coming if we don't we'll continue to struggle.

2-1 - please?

Blue4Ever

Lee Doyle



Report

 

Steve Milne



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