Howard and Everton repel City's second-half tide to claim hard-earned draw

OK, just one reason...

Even a really shit one...

It’s a Wednesday doesn’t count!

- Howard back in goal
- Stones at RB
- Osman starting (Pienaar and Mirallas benched...)

Lot of weaknesses in the starting XI and we haven’t even kicked off!

Long night ahead, I fear... at least Besic starts.

Stones at RB?

Ossie in a game like this?

Never mind the obvious.

RM must know something the rest of us don't.

Maybe he thinks he will shock Man City with the selection.

Three more points down the pan Roberto.........

Totally frustrating.....he is on another planet to the rest of us.......

20 mins in and so far Howard seems to be playing like he knows he’s got someone looking at his spot.

Also, I really like Aguero but he he should have had a yellow for that dive after the Besic challenge.

Stones at right-back is like a new signing.

Second, Stones is at right back because he has played there. Plus, he is not a center back. Get him wide or up the field to begin with to take advantage of the things he does well, passes, dribbles, and avoiding headers.

First half kind of supports all of the above doesn't it? Awaiting the usual witty drivel in response.

That explains it. Ossie has been a good servant, but only averaged 4 goals a season. Lampard has 178 Premier League goals.

I am not watching the game right now so I hope he is having the game of his life.

Well chuffed with that result and solid performance, and the shite are losing!! Even the biggest anti-Howard brigade have to admit he didn’t put a glove wrong tonight, – at least in my blue-tinted specs anyhow.

Couple of nice Bainaar moments too, sign of things to come for a fee months?

I think we put in a brilliant defensive shift in the 2nd half. And it was by design that we sat back rather than Man City dominating us.

Stones was lucky at the end but karma balanced things out with the penalty that should never have been against Stoke the other week.

I fully expect us to win this trophy now... It’s destiny! :)

Good result, shame it's not the cup match!!!

Sometimes we are a little too quick to slate our own players / manager.

Well done the lads tonight – Tim especially. Brilliant gutsy performance!

Jags was MotM for me. Not slating Howard in any way, he was fab too.

Martinez has had lots of stick from me this season, but he got it right and Howard repaid his faith. I hope Stones cuts out those sliding lunges, when the player is going out of play!

Great defensive effort in 2nd half – though Ross did a good job on Toure, but I would have liked to see him get on the ball a bit more.

I honestly cannot remember (2012?) the last time Howard put in a man of the match display so the brickbats are justified for his poor form. He has definitely earned us a point today though so, well in Tim Howard.

The first half was a great performance and deserved something. Barkley oozed class and was my pick of the players. Besic dominated and played good stuff as well as harrying and tracking as usual. We looked more assured with Jags back.

Tim for MotM for me.

Osman starting is a signal of our lack of strength in depth. Howard, Jagielka, Baines, Osman, Pienaar all played in this match but we didn’t have a Cahill or an Arteta to worry them. Very reminiscent of a Moyes team without really troubling their below standard defence.

Obviously I’d settle for the same result in 14 days time, as it is our only realistic chance of taking anything from a pretty disappointing season.

Barkley was abysmal?

Howard benefited from having Jags in front of him when he made those point blank saves?

Those points aren't even worth countering... Just repeating them is enough!

Full credit to all the team tonight; tough place to go and we were better than them for the first 45 mins, but we never got going again till 80th minute

MotM – Jagielka.

Excellent from Howard and Besic.

Again, not faulting his performance but he didn´t have to do those things that he has been faulted for all season.

Besic impressed me as did Barry who has been great all season. Jagielka and Funes Mori looked very solid and I thought Barkley and Lukaku did pretty well for the most part. Ossie and Deulofeu the weaker links for me and we really need a first choice left winger who can make things happen whilst working hard up and down his flank.

A good result and hope we can do the same when returning there next!

I hate to say it as he seems a nice enough lad, and he is one of us after all, but will he ever be at the level of say Cazorla, Oscar, Ozil or Mata and the answer is a resounding no.

Keep it up Tim!

1: We can go toe to toe with them and attack at their ground (1st half);
2: We can actually shut up shop at the Etihad and defend with discipline. That was the most surprising aspect to me.

Both things gives me hope ahead of the replay next week.

We have been complaining about our defensive performances for a number of games and the return of Jags to me shows how much he has been missed. Jags return also gives us a chance to rest either Stones or Funes Mori.

The effort tonight should be recognized as a good performance. as there are very few teams that have stopped City from scoring at home.

Stones could play right back or midfield. Perhaps he and Besic together would be an interesting duo. Besic defending and Stones getting forward more since his offensive skills seem to be the better of the two players. Does give options for RM.

On form, does Howard play the second leg versus Man City in the League Cup? Did everything right so how could he be dropped?

If we get anywhere near the top four by the end of the season then that would be a real success. This season gives us an outside chance but if this board continue to dither over strengthening the squad then we will falter.

No other top team would have players of the calibre of Osman, Pienaar, Kone, McGeady, Gibson, Hibbert and others on their first team squad. Osman, Pienaar and Hibbert have been fine players but are now fading. Signing Gibson and McGeady were monumental errors. Kone has dried up as far as goals are concerned and Lennon was a discard from Spurs. Barry and Howard are needing replacement pretty soon.

Our real assets are all coveted by richer clubs and whether we can hang on to Lukaku, Barkley and Stones is debatable. IMO we need an overhaul and we must sign two or three ready made players of repute if we are to show enough ambition to keep our young stars happy.

Great result this evening and it was a pity we could not have done a ’Leicester’ and poached a goal at the end.

Thought the whole team did well and can’t fault anyone for City’s pressure 2nd half, they are the most expensively assembled team in the league – even surpassing the vile Chelski

Thought the whole team were exceptional first half and were unlucky not to nose in front.

What a difference Besic has made.

It wouldn't be Everton to keep it up for 90 minutes though.

Thought we were under siege second half and Stones should have been taken off after getting injured. It should not be the player's decision to stay on the pitch. I thought he was a real liability after that and almost gave a penalty away.

Nick, I can't believe your comment on Barkley. He practically ran the game for us. Lukaku doesn't like being shackled and his hold up play was poor but otherwise a good result and more of the same hopefully in the games to come.

But Howard has been slated for not attacking crosses (and everything else about his game). Now we say it helped him that he didn’t have to? Surely the issue there is that defensively we have gone months without the right personnel. The issue has been as much to do with Mori and Stones as it was Howard. Jags coming back helped the whole team. It helped Funes Mori look better too. And Stones. None of them were criticised for not doing something that isn’t a big part of their game.

Howard is declining with age. No doubt from me. But he is what he is and Roberto picks the team.

On the right back issue. Some on the live forum we’re claiming Seamus must be an issue and Stones should play there. I thought Stones filled in well but he’s a much better centre-half. He got carried away going forward attempting passes and dribbles... you’ve got Barkley and Deulofeu next to you – give it to them! As much as I want to see the exciting parts of his game he needs to realise he could be a top centre-half but has nothing like the ball skills of a top midfielder.

Nothing up front at all, very frustrating again.

Thank Christ the ref didn’t view Stones tackle in the last minute as a penalty, I was certain it would be given, I was already storming out of the living room in disgust. Relieved we got away with it, as was Stones I’m sure.

Chelsea for the taking on Saturday then. COYB

He can get way with years of disastrous performances, play one or two decent 'reaction save' games a year and rest on them with a smug grin until 2018.

Decent point but using PL games to get clearly unfit players up to speed, like Osman and Pienaar, isn't likely to get us wins at the Etihad.

Still a pont gained and Howard did well; can't argue with that.

The lad's got so much talent but frustrates (a la toure) with his lethargic sauntering without the ball.

It was crying our for a bit of energy up front, I’d have welcomed Naismith (if fit/selected) or Mirallas.

Solid defensive display and hopefully a confidence boost going into the all important semi-final decider.

And what about Ossie’s Sheedyesque strike!

Howard never got this much stick when it was Distin and Jags, did he!

And yet we have the usual moaners ... Barkley was rubbish, Osman is slow, Howard has only had one good game all season.

Besic must start every game now surely? More creativity, pace and tackling grunt than McCarthy and Cleverley in the middle.

So... Cheer up, boys and girls!! A point there is a positive!
COYB!

Stones is no right back, not at this level. Hope to never see him there again.

We are told that we mustn’t moan but it would be lovely, just for once, to see us play with joined up defence and attack against a decent side in the Premier League for more than 45 minutes.

Isn't that what we've all been screaming for.

There was moment where City broke and normally we wouldn't have any cover - but there was Besic back protecting the back 4.

Hopefully a sign that lessons are being learned.

I definitely thinks we've missed Jags' experience and organisation, which told tonight.

I thought Besic and Barks were excellent and brought much required energy and composure to our midfield.

Del Boy was dangerous with his pace down the right.

Howard was solid tonight.

Osman - for me its a risk starting him, especially in game as fast and with as many fit and pacy players as City have.

A excellent point as long as we continue defensively like this in the following games, we all know we can score goals.

Stones needs to get his act back together!

Haven't seen the 2nd half yet, but 0-0 away to Citteh does me, and we'll turn Chelsea over

I get the feeling Roberto gets out his statistical tablet out at half-time and saddens them into a depressing state of mind. It seems like we lose all our ambition to score. Maybe he is trying too hard, saying nothing at half-time would be a better option.

At it again I see. I won’t re-post my reply to yet more of the same "opinions" from you. Will it be medication or alcohol or both to blame for your anti-Howard post on this thread? I think that, if he could bring back Jesus, you still would slate Howard for waiting so long or some other nonsense. Maybe his saves looked routine to you because he made a couple look easier than they were simply by being correctly in position in advance (advantage of playing closer to the line).

Maybe, as I have suggested since last season, the blame is in the organization of the back four, specifically Stones? Seems Funes Mori - Jags is a better pairing than Jags - Stones, or Stones - Funes Mori. It is too early to tell yet but it looked promising, almost like Distin was back.

Not all were routine saves, sorry. Also, the foot save was exactly what Robles doesn’t, or can’t do, and didn’t for the Man City goal in his game from a similar angle. Tim kept it out, Joel didn’t.

Thank you for pointing out my occasional use of alcohol and drugs (prescription of course); that was very nice of you and I just hope it doesn’t upset your sensibilities too much.

You may have noticed that most Evertonians agree with my opinion of Howard, whether under the influence or stone cold sober.

Might have known that his few acolytes would be out after he actually did what a Premier League goalie should. Congratulations to him and you of course.

Those who believe a similar result will see us at Wembley (and it will of course) will be living in hope that our rejuvenated defence will make it happen but, if we set out to make that the plan and allow them room to express their obvious talents over 90 mins, we are doomed I tell you... DOOMED!!!

Have to give credit for a 1st half of an excellent combination of teamwork and application plus individual effort by all the boys Besic, Jags, Funes Mori and Stones, who nearly cost us the points, Barry and Howard in particular.

Got home just in time to see the last 10 seconds of the highlights on MotD, it didn’t look like it at the time, but that was a penalty in the last minute. I think we got lucky there! I will take the same result in a fortnight's time though.

Jags was phenomenal, as was Funes Mori. Bainsey seems to be fully recovered. Watching Stones vs Sterling was epic (Stones won in the end...with a bit of luck, it must be said).

The starting midfield did very well. We weren’t quite as effective with Deulofeu and Ossie off, and Kone and Pienaar on. Kone did alright, but Pienaar was way off the pace. He’s not all the way back yet.

If we can duplicate this result the next time we face City, it will make my year... mind you the year will only be month or so old.

If the answer to the Left Side is not Kone... and for some reason it’s never going to be Mirallas, then any Osman or Pienaar permutation might not be the end of the world. Although none of them will ever again put in a full 90+ or even 60 at this level.

Martinez seems to have stumbled on to a good 11 with the addition of Besic. I hope he keeps this as his new base line minimum for all the season not just for January.

Got to sort this 2nd half mental block thing though. The standard team talk at half time after you’ve done pretty well, especially away to a good team, should always contain the driven home message (leaving the bleedin obvious unspoken doesn’t work) ’We know they are going to come out hard at us, so’...

So? rip into them first... Harder, Faster.

But I don’t think ’Getting your retaliation in first’ features anywhere in Bobby’s nice guy, purist ’Philosophy’.

In the first half we were toe to toe with them and I don’t buy they upped their game! We backed off!

As for Tim Howard, he made up for the the two howlers he made in the first game back in September! Strange, Robles made a better outstretched save last game in the league than anything Howard did tonight but got none of the superlatives showered upon TH tonight!

Howard played well tonight. It’s about time. So all credit to him. Jags and Funes Mori looked solid. That’s good. Stones? Will he even be at Everton next season? Will we manage to bring in a top class replacement? Besic? Will he now stay fit and get a proper run in the team? Where does McCarthy now fit in? Pienaar and Osman? Are they really the way forward? Kone?? WTF is Martinez doing to Mirallas? Why is Naismith going? Can Deulofeu ever play two good games in a row? Same goes for Barkley.....why do I support this crazy team? So bloody good....and yet so bloody bad. So talented... yet so error strewn. So quick....and slow. So close....yet so far away. Let’s do the business against City in two weeks’ time. Martinez must have them sussed out by now. COYBs

Really, really stupid tackle at the end of the game. You just don’t dive in like that in the box after your team has fought so gallantly. It was a pen – no question – and he really got away with one and should have cost us points.

After he was injured he received the ball and gave it away very sloppily after attempting to maneuver around a City player – and he was almost the last man at the rear of the back line. Very poor judgement in that instance.

The final time he was poor was when he shielded a man in the first half while moving back towards our own goal by the touchline for like 30 yards. He really, really needs to know there are times you just put the damn thing into touch.

John Stones is an amazing footballer and I absolutely think he’s top class. But he’s still very young and I think we saw that on multiple occasions today.

We see the same "off games" from Barkley, Deulofeu, Lukaku... all the young guys. This team is full – bursting – with talent. As these kids mature as footballers and learn to make better decisions they will just get better and better.

We are sitting on a gold mine. It’s going to take a bit more time, but we are literally sitting on a gold mine.

Howard played well and did what you’d expect from your goalkeeper. However the problem he’s had this season is dealing with crosses particularly in and around the six-yard box. City aren’t the type of team who sling crosses into the box and on corners they didn’t really have anyone standing on Howard. When we face a team that does these things, I’m sure we’ll see the same old problems raising their head.

He did make a lot of good saves but I am surprised no-one mentioned the incident where he came for a cross from the left which was less than 50/50 for him. He beat Aguero to it, punched it out, and got clattered in the process – not something I have seen him do too often or that he is renowned for.

I was pleased to see Pienaar come on for the last 20 minutes. He did what he always does, linked up well with Baines, tracked back, and won several free kicks which slowed the game down when the pressure was really on. Still a a good option on the left even if it is as a sub.

A very talented City team came at us with everything in the second half but they couldn’t break us down – I think we earned the point with an outstanding defensive effort.

And Lady Luck shone on us in injury time.

Why is it that we make such ridiculous criticisms of a team that we purport to support and should be giving our encouragement. We make even moaning City fans, who I always thought were the worst, rational by comparison.

Yes, we are sitting on a gold mine, but does the boss know how to mine it?

I enjoyed the game but thought we ran out of steam a bit. Roberto obviously thinks Pienaar has more to offer than Lennon and Mirallas. In the 80th minute, Kone gave the ball away very poorly and easily. The City player was 20 feet away before he decided half-heartedly to chase after it!

The majority of posters think that Mirallas is better than Kone. If Roberto thinks Kone is better, that’s his choice, which I think is wrong. However, if Kone is preferred to spite Mirallas, then that is a terrible decision because it’s EFC who suffer more than the player.

Now for the two main talking points:-

Howard – had a great game and deserves credit for that, much more like the form we’ve come to expect from him but unfortunately too few and far between do we see that type of display. I have been keeping track this season and due to direct errors from Howard we have conceded 5 goals this season leading to a possible loss of 6 points. Now this is direct errors leading to goals and not overall performances which I know would count for more points dropped. It also doesn’t include the penalty he gave away against Leicester. So you could say that he has cost us somewhere in the region of 9/10 points. He’s just gained 2 back from that and for me still has a long way to go. Still, it’s a start.

The penalty! – Was it a pen? I’d like to say no but I think if it was against us we’d be well pissed. Again I’ve been keeping track and we have gone though this season without being awarded a penalty at all but have serious claims for three. On the flip side we have had just one occasion when the opposition maybe should have been awarded a pen and wasn’t so this now makes two. Also, the opposition has been awarded one penalty that shouldn’t have been given. So, in total we have had two favourable penalty decisions (including last night) and four bad decision against us. We’re due for that sort of decision and more to go our way so I’m not losing any sleep over it.

They say these decisions even out over the season and that’s why I thought I’d keep track.

The fact is that we had very good possession first half and some really nice approach play. However, I don’t recall a single save Hart had to make. I watched once in real time but I don’t believe we actually tested him once. We nearly had a worldie from Leon but actually he missed the target.

Contrast that with the second half City pressure when Howard made a whole bunch of saves, some routine, some very good, and there you have why we will never do anything under Martinez. City had an end product to their possession which was making the goalkeeper work. That’s why some people are fooled. Half a game of pretty approach play with no end product is NOT the same as excellent football!

The pleasing flip side, for me, was a much improved defensive performance second half when we actually did what we were supposed to which was keep a clean sheet, just about. A top side still cut through us at will but we just about got away with it. Jagielka’s return was the clear reason for that in my opinion. Plus I actually thought Stones was pretty decent defensively as a RB despite some balloonhead moments.

Those of you who think we are on the brink of greatness though, think again. The defensive improvement was pleasing and a good point taken for me but right there is every reason why we will do nothing under Martinez: looks good for a time but always a hair breadth away from defeat and eventually that will catch up with him. You’ll be scratching your head thinking we are playing great while we drop down the league. It’s a results business; you’re only playing great when you’re winning, otherwise you’re an also ran.

We will only ever be also-rans at best under Martinez I’m afraid. There is no end product and only a world class striker on top of his game is the reason we are better off points wise than the same time last season.

But I thought the first half against City was threatening. We had a nice balance between periods of possession and going direct on the break.

Moving onto other comments about Ross. I just don't get it. If people can't appreciate what he already is after that performance then they never will.

First half he gave an absolute masterclass. Second half his moments were much rarer as we retreated into our own half but he still had moments. The time when he and Besic won the ball on the edge of our box and played one-twos right up to City's box just made me smile with pride - how many teams have players of that kind of ability?

Just a shame that Ross couldn't add to his improved goal and assist stats. Sometimes it just doesn't go for you but we deserved something out of that first half.

Fair play you have been pretty much a lone voice defending Tim and last night he played very well. I was in the Robles deserves a chance camp but didn't subscribe to much of the hysteria that has been going on and as for Evertonians going on a player's Twitter account to abuse him personally, don't get me started.

However you can't have it both ways, it seems you always want to dig out John Stones which I find bemusing in the extreme. You want supporters to keep faith with a goalkeeper that even the manager acknowledges has not been at his best but you seem happy to dismiss a young lad who has all the potential to be a world class player and suggest our defensive frailties are laid at his door.

In my view it is neither Tim Howard or John Stones that have been the problem to us conceding so many goals especially at home. It's about system and tactics. The good news is that the manager seems to have stumbled across / displayed tactical flexibility ( take your pick depending on your point of view) to play Besic as part of a three allowing Barkley to play in a more advanced role. Personally and I've said it before a midfield three of Besic, Barry and McCarthy will make us a much more difficult side to get at. It may result in being more defensive but after Stoke and Leicester I'm alright with that.

Apart from our lack of real threat in front of goal, the biggest problem with Martinez' philosophy is that it is totally focussed on what to do when we have the ball. It overlooks that the other team gets the ball too. It's why our shape is so poor; it's why the movement off the ball is so poor.

I just don't think he gets this part of the game at all

At times, we’re a much better team in both attack and defence with less possession, or at least less possession over the halfway line. Possession is about controlling the game and playing it on your terms, to your strengths. Against Leicester, for example, we completely played to the opposition’s strengths by camping in their half and moving the ball around endlessly. We played "well" but on their terms.

Finally, are we happy now we have kept a clean sheet? Is that the end of saying we’ll never be able to defend under RM and that we should sack the manager? For 5 minutes at least, please...

While I agree it is disgraceful to barrack our own players who, after all, do not pick themselves, I have to say one good game does not renew confidence in Howard.

Although his contribution was huge last night most of his saves were of the panic variety, ie, leg stuck out, punching away etc, with very few "clean" catches.

I am not saying Robles would have done any better last night and it might be churlish after a clean sheet but I still believe a new top class keeper is required asap.

Ernie, I totally agree re Barkley. He very rarely loses the ball and his skill in turning and protecting the ball is world class. Those that can't see that should book an eye test at the earliest opportunity.

My opinion is that Howard should have been on the bench once again last night. Yes, he saved what came his way and you would expect that from your first choice goalkeeper, so if that is me giving credit were credit is due – fair enough.

High on class, yeah posting photos of your exclusive first class seat with your very expensive luggage every time he sets foot on an aeroplane on his social media is classy alright... What a load of bollocks.

Robles would have done everything that Howard did last night. I hope the rumours that he is off in the summer are true. Too many mistakes costing us too many points over the last couple of seasons tell me that he is not good enough for Everton.

Is Robles better? We will never know until the guy gets a decent run and if goalkeeping is all about confidence as you mention then Robles should not have been dropped.

I have been pointing out the defensive deficiencies since last season when Distin was dropped. I have pointed out that unless the keeper is actually dropping balls into his goal, letting them go through his legs or other fumbling of the ball across the line, there are usually other reasons for the goals scored (Barclays Premier League site for 2015-16 indcates no errors by Howard resulting in goals) In this case,the reason that I saw was the defense and namely the centerbacks, specifically Stones (since Jags was in last season).

As for blaming one player, isn't that what most on here have done to Howard? He is being blamed for goals not his fault. Everton concede goals from poor defending and poor positioning mostly by the two players charged with commanding and controlling the area in front of the keeper, the centerbacks.

If part of the job of a centerback is defending crossses, man marking, positional awareness, and willingness to control and command the area then Stones is a poor defender because he fails to do this in every game. I am sick of hearing that our defenders with Galloway in were young and error prone. Fine,they are, but that means they make mistakes and those mistakes turn into shots on goal and goals. Stop blaming the keeper and claiming he has poor form when there is more to it. If a defender is only doing half of his job why is he being given a free pass? It is only now that others are seeing that Mori is better at it than is Stones and that the Mori-Jags pairing might be the correct one. That Robles did not keep a clean sheet is as much a factor of the same positional deficiencies as Howard faces each game, as well as it is down to Robles' inability to read the situation, get into position and then make the footsave.

Your point that I am wrong to blame just Stones is valid to a degree but isn't it just as wrong to blame our goalkeeper?

Contrary to what Jim (#143) is claiming, Howard has been dogshit for much of this season, a semi-decent keeper would have seen us much further up the table, BUT, he was fantastic last night and we need to acknowledge it.

In my opinion, claims that he was "lucky" just seem Churlish. If we are going to criticise him when he plays badly – and most of us have – How can our argument have any credibility if we refuse to acknowledge a first class performance?

I'm not just talking about the keeper. The claim that Martinez has "stumbled across a good 11" is very harsh indeed. I'm never slow to criticise the manager if I think its called for, but come on... "stumbled on a good 11"???

Criticism and credit when it's due Guys, otherwise we risk our opinions becoming little more than predetermined stand points

I don’t approve of the abuse he and others get but he has been in decline for some time and Robles should be given a fair chance to prove himself.

Howard had an excellent game, he may have an excellent game Saturday, then what? Does Bobby keep faith with Robles in the cup game, or does he play Howard?

If Robles is dropped for the semi-final, Bobby will take a bashing; if Robles plays but concedes goals, Bobby will again get a bashing for not sticking with Howard.

Bobby has put himself in a no-win situation for the cup game.

If ever Bobby needed those magic Brown Shoes, it surely has to be for the semi-final game.

However... The last two games we played extremely well, against two very good sides, both of which could be seen as mounting a title challenge this season. Yes, if we draw against teams like Norwich and Bournemouth, we are never going to qualify for the Europa League, let alone the Champions League. But if we can avoid losses against teams like Spurs and Man City, we have hope still.

BTW: Congrats on a MotM performance Tim Howard. Showed all of us up. Well done.

So basically what you are saying is don’t blame Tim Howard blame John Stones, which is quite telling really.

If you actually read my post, you will see I am saying that mistakes by individual players are not the main reason for the goals we have conceded, but the system and tactics which have been deployed have made us extremely vulnerable to counter-attacks.

As I said, some of the reaction to Howard has verged on the hysterical but by no means has he been playing well, other than about three games. Although he has been better than last season when, to use Darren’s nicely coined phrase, he was dogshit. We will see if he can carry on at the level of Wednesday.

As for younger players being error-prone... well, to some extent, that is what young players do; they are works in progress. But of course they only learn with experience. This is why many safety-first managers don’t take the chance. To Martinez’s considerable credit, and I am one who has some doubts about his tactical savvy, you cannot accuse him of not giving young players a chance and support.

John Stones was a right back, and is now a world class centre half, yet people are claiming he’ll be a better midfielder? I don’t understand this way of thinking. He’s a centre half, end of story.

Decent result and good for us psychologically, but I fear for the second leg in the cup if we go there again and try to play like that – we got away with murder and it won’t happen a second time.

We need to be more adventurous as we were in the first leg if we want a result – if we get another clean sheet against them I’ll eat my hat.