Expansive Blues not tight enough

, 7 April, 77comments  |  Jump to most recent
Norwich City 2 - 2 Everton
It was time to rest Marouane Fellaini, and John Heitinga also started on the bench, giving the improved secret weapon, Magaye Gueye, another chance to start in the continuing absence of Royston Drenthe. Coleman on the bench, coming back from injury.

Everton looked confident and strong as they attacked Norwich with some intent form the off, a great cross from Gueye just a little too high for Jelavic at the far post. Gibson had less than a half-chance that went wide.But the Canaries settled back into the game and wasting a free-kick.

Cahill and Pienaar tried to walk it into the net as Everton pushed the hosts back after a brief excursion to Howard's area. Everton kept building attacks but it was Norwich who won a very threatening free-kick when Jagielka pulled down Holt but the wall did its job.

From a midfield free-kick, Pienaar again fed a good forward ball that Jagielka spun onto in the area, and crossed well for Jelavic to poke home skillfuly with a deft first-time clip that beat Ruddy. Everton with a fully deserved lead, with a rare assist from Jagielka, and should have scored again when a Hibbert cross came back off the post but with the goal gaping he fired it weakly at Ruddy.

Baines went in the book for fouling Bennett from behind as Everon continued their good work. with 10 mins of the half left, Norwich had a half-decent shot that went wide. But they then sliced through the Everton defence, Hoolahan beating a static Jagielka with a good cross, allowing Howson to score his first goal for Norwich from close range.

Baines then went in a little high for no real reason, and the crowd thought a second yellow was on the cards as the pendulum swung against the visitors, Jelavic getting called for a clumsy foul. At the other end, Pienaar tried to curl one in but it went wide.

But it was Coleman who appeared in place of Gueye rather than Baines after the break as Norwich won a good early free-kick that was again powered into the Everton wall.

Jelavic did well to cross for Coleman at the far post but he was denied by smart defensive work from Dury. At the other end, Howard was tested and had to hook a parried save away with his foot under pressure form Holt as Pienaar became the second Everton name on Marriner's yellow card as Fellaini replaced Neville.

With Fellaini boosting Everton's attack, Baines played Pienaar into lots of space as Norwich had stopped playing, demanding a free kick for some previous nothingness, while Jelavic calmy stroked the ball past Ruddy for his second.

Fellaini picked up his 9th yellow of the season with a typical slightly mistimed interception that caught the player's foot instead of the ball. Despite the lead, Everton showed little sign of sitting back, and kept building attacks down the left.

But Norwich did eventually push the Blues back, and a series of more generous free-kicks threatened another equalizer. Bennett came very close, smashing his shot into the side netting. But Wolverham got free to fprce a parry off Howard and he was then able to turn and set up Holt for the second equalizer with a little more than 10 mins left.

Time for Super-Sub Victor Anichebe, replacing Cahill...

A nice sweeping move saw Fellaini get in a looping header as Everton surged forward, it became an end-to-end affair, both teams going for the win. Anichebe almost got the ball on his right foot for that daisy cutter...

Darron Gibson remains unbeaten in a Royal Blue shirt of Everton. If the gameplan had been to demonstrate that Everton can play more open expansive entertaining football, but only at the cost of loser defensive structure, lack of shape, and poorer discipline that inevitably leads to opposition goals and lost points, this could not have been a better example.

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Neville (57' Fellaini), Gibson, Pienaar, Gueye (46' Coleman), Jelavic, Cahill (81' Anichebe).
Subs: Mucha, Heitinga, Stracqualursi, McFadden. Referee: Andre Marriner . Att: 26,554.

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page



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