Result:
Leeds United (1) 1 -
Everton (0) 0
Scorers: Molenaar
(28)
Leeds United: Martyn, Palmer, Wetherall, Sharpe, Rush, Deane, Bowyer,
Halle, Harte, Yeboah, Molenaar.
Subs Not Used: Wallace, Gray, Ford, Jackson, Beeney. Booked:
Deane, Palmer, Harte.
|
Everton: Southall, Barrett, Unsworth, Watson,
Phelan, Ferguson, Speed, Barmby (60 Branch), Thomsen, Parkinson (7 Stuart),
Short (83 Rideout). Booked: Speed. Subs Not Used: Hottiger, Speare. Unavailable: Hinchcliffe, Grant, Gerrard, O'Connor (all injured). |
 Ref:
Martin Bodenham
|
Att:
32,055
|
League Position: 13th
|
Results
and League Table
|
Previous Match: Southampton v Everton - Next Match: Everton v Derby County
SoccerNet (Bob Cass, The Mail on Sunday): Robert Molenaar's first goal for Leeds was enough to settle the points and deepen the gloom over the Blue half of Merseyside. The big Dutch defender, a £1 million signing from FC Volendam at the turn of the year, headed past Neville Southall in the 28th minute to earn Leeds a third successive victory they just about deserved.
But they almost began with a 'charity begins at home' gift that could have brought them disaster after just 25 seconds. Carlton Palmer's careless back pass almost let in Nicky Barmby but the ball was just too quick and Nigel Martyn booted clear. Then Everton went close again in the third minute when the keeper stretched to push a Duncan Ferguson right footer around for a corner.
Joe Royle's tactical plan had to be aborted after just seven minutes when Joe Parkinson, injured in a heavy challenge from Palmer, went off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and was replaced by Graham Stuart. But Everton still looked the more likely to score early on and Terry Phelan twice went close first after eight minutes when he poked a ball a foot wide after Gunnar Halle had failed to clear a Ferguson centre.
Then Martyn made another superb reflex save from Phelan again after poor defensive marking by the home side. In between United had their best chance of the opening spell when Tony Yeboah headed wide at the far post when he looked certain to score. But Leeds gradually began to find their attacking feet and they ended a spell of persistent pressure by taking the lead. Lee Bowyer's corner was met powerfully by the head of Molenaar and the ball found the net under Phelan's foot.
The goal sparked even more aggression from Leeds and Southall saved brilliantly from Brian Deane's low header after 38 minutes.
The pattern of mediocrity was maintained after the break but both keepers made excellent saves - Southall to deny a rasping shot from Yeboah and Martyn to keep out a point blank effort from David Unsworth.
Royle, desperate to improve a recent record of one win in eleven matches brought on talented teenager Michael Branch for the disappointing Barmby after an hour and the youngster was responsible for forcing Martyn into one of two magnificent saves in a nail biting finale. The other in the dying seconds was a point blank reflex save that prevented Gary Speed making a successful return to Elland Road.
Guy McEvoy: Joe Royle must have taken some encouragement from the team's midweek performance at Southampton; he decided to persevere with the same line-up that had at one stage given us a rare two-goal lead (before then pushing the self-destruct button).
Initially his patience looked likely to be rewarded. No sooner had the game kicked off than Duncan rifled a swirling shot from 20 yards just denied by Martyn. Mr Martyn was to take a lot of stick from the travelling contingent over the afternoon, but right from this early moment he signalled how he intended to answer it.
It wasn't a long wait before Everton were again threatening the goal. This time the danger man was, again, Ferguson. He headed the ball downwards and chased onto it, charging goalwards clear of the defence. Instead of the shot, he placed a perfect cross for a first time hit to Phelan who had sprinted clear with a strong diagonal run. He must have been no more than 5 yards out with the keeper beaten when he sent it wide.
Luck and Elland Road do not go together; today was no exception. Within the first ten minutes, we were to take a knock that was probably more significant than either of these two earlier misses. Joe Parkinson managed an innocuous-looking challenge that left him staggering for a couple of minutes, then demanding to be subbed. On came Stuart and alive came Leeds.
In the interest of fairness, as Everton had just missed a sitter, sportingly, Leeds decided to do the same. This time it was Tony Yeboah who was the man who managed to head over an empty goal from maybe 3 yards. At this point, you could sense the uncertainty creeping back into the Everton defence, Unsworth in particular again looked a bit unsure of himself and Everton were again relying on Craig Short for a superb last ditch tackle to keep the scores level.
Ddespite flashes of promise from Everton the bite was still missing. Mn were finding space unmarked, and inevitably this is a formula for an opposition goal. It came from a corner, the scorer was on his own. I blame Thomsen; he was the nearest blue shirt and failed to react at all to the obvious threat as the player strolled in, leapt up, and headed downwards and in.
Thus, despite the very early promise, we spent the break chewing our now near non existent finger-nails.
The second half performance was an improvement and by the end of the game only a most ardent Leeds fan could have denied we looked worthy of an equaliser. The hardest work all afternoon came from Phelan and Speed. They again combined well to underline what a good understanding they've developed over the last few weeks. Speed in particular always looked our greatest threat once Duncan's early fire had faded.
As the game progressed, we couldn't convert pressure into an equaliser and so Joe played his joker (some would say that should be 'the' joker) by sticking on Branch for Barmby. Later on still Short was withdrawn in order to add Rideout as the desperation increased.
The last fifteen minutes was an absolutely desperate affair, and I'm pleased to report that some players even showed a flicker (though no more than a flicker!) of passion as the clock painfully ticked down. Branch was given an magnificent opportunity, but came off second best in his one-on-one with Martyn.
Thomsen offered Everton only two contributions for the entire game, both late on and both of which were, in fairness, decent cracks at goal (the second came immediately after he'd just taken a whack in the face and the cries of 'leave him' and general unconcern in the away enclosure was a fair indication of just how unimportant he'd been for us).
The closest efforts were saved for the final two minutes with desperate goal mouth scrambles that left hearts in mouths for all. Unsworth managed to head the ball straight at Martyn when absolutely anywhere else would have seen it in the net. Finally, after splendid work and a good cross from Rideout, Speed just couldn't quite pick up the goal that his days performance deserved.
The performance had a feel of last September about it. It certainly wasn't a dire showing like Coventry and it is possible to point to plenty that is positive. But at this point in the season, and in this position we no longer have the luxury of having months to mess about and get it right.
Throughout Black September, the consensus was that -- despite results --
we were only really missing one or two pieces of the Jigsaw and it was Barmby
that was deemed the square peg for the square hole. Since then however, to
stick with the analogy, the picture on the jigsaw has changed, specifically
in the midfield:
It just doesn't seem to be clicking. For, goodness sake, three times today Carlton bloody twinkle toes Palmer cut through the middle like a knife through microwaved butter which is shameful.
As many advocate, if you don't win the midfield you don't win the game, so despite some honest efforts by individuals in the team today I just can't see this line-up troubling the best the Premiership has to offer. The tragedy is that this is exactly what it has to do in the coming weeks. Thomsen looked a long way from an equal to Parkinson. What price Ebbrell?
In recognition that we had showed good spirit the team for once left the pitch not to the now usual chorus of boo's but instead to a rousing series of chants, however, the enthusiasm was perhaps taken a little far by those who cheered when the Sunderland result against United was announced. With the teams below us hitting form and taking points at games like that we look more and more likely to be heading for a dangerous conclusion to the season.
Robbie Newton: Football can be a cruel game at times. Football teams can be cruel at times. Today, football was cruel to Everton, and Everton were cruel to their fans.
If Everton are to survive this season, they need to show more resilience, more creativity, and more pride in their Royal Blue Jersey.
A 1-0 defeat at Elland Road is the most we can expect I suppose. We haven't won there for 55 years now and that run will be extended if we don't purchase new players - or blood some of our talented youngsters.
Today, we didn't deserve to lose. I wouldn't say we deserved to win, but we at least could have, and should have, come away with 1 point. Leeds are a mediocre side at their best, so to come away with no points on top of a poor performance suggests that Royle - who claims we're better than our position - overrates our side.
I got into the ground at 1:35. The first place I looked to was my seat in the FA Cup Semi-Final two years ago. The memories flooded back and I hoped for an Everton performance of similar quality. In reality, it was never going to happen, and ultimately it didn't.
The game kicked off and the first twenty minutes was a virtual non-event. We had the early territorial advantage but what's the point in that if there is nothing to show for it? Then our defence comes under it's first real test and Leeds take the lead.
Short heads the ball out for a corner, Bowyer takes, Molenaar leaps unchallenged and scores. Now I was worried as I couldn't honestly see a way back. We had no creativity in the midfield and, like supporters were saying around me, we only had a chance of scoring from a set-piece.
Joe Royle's answer to a dismal first half performance was to…, er…, leave everything as it was. Barmby continued despite yet another ineffective and quiet showing.
Everton were poor up until the 80th minute. It was only then that the Leeds goal came under pressure and Nigel Martyn was called into action.
The pressure coincided with the arrival of Paul Rideout who, at 32, is still one of the best footballers Everton have got. He can be frustrating at times due to his lack of pace and his unwillingness to do anything spectacular, but he leads the line well and knows what to do with the ball -- even if we often know as well.
Rideout produced three or four crosses of great quality but unfortunately neither Duncan nor Speed could get on the end of them.
Michael Branch had been introduced on the hour for Nick Barmby (who was very frustrated at being subbed -- he slowly trudged off the pitch) and he served up the usual enthusiasm we now come to expect of him. Today though, he missed a golden opportunity that will bring back the stupid comparisons with Stuart Barlow. He should have scored, but in all fairness it was an excellent save. Phelan played Branch through and with only Martyn to beat he shot into the keeper's midrift.
We all thought that was it as there was now only 6 minutes left. But it wasn't the end. We had another two clear cut opportunities, but once again, we couldn't make them count.
Claus Thomsen had a 4-yard shot saved by Martyn but nobody followed up and the chance went begging. And 4 minutes into injury time Thomsen had another great chance. His shot -- again from close range -- was blocked by Molenaar and that finally indicated it wasn't our day. But then, it hasn't been our day for 30-odd Saturday's running. You've got to make it your day yourself. You can't rely on defenders making mistakes -- you gotta make it happen.
Everton have got to learn to play for 90 minutes, not 10 or 15. It's happening far to regularly -- just what is said in the dressing room?
Oh God, Man U, Liverpool, Villa, Chelsea -- 4 teams we've still got left to play. Uh-oh!
Derek Potter, Electronic Telegraph: ANOTHER defeat will strengthen the resolve of Everton manager Joy Royle to sign Croatian defender Slaven Bilic from West Ham in time to halt what is becoming a free fall into the relegation zone. Royle needs an immediate answer to a £5 million bid for a player West Ham do not want to lose in view of their own plight.
Leeds boosted a climb up the table by inflicting a 12th defeat of the season on Everton at a stadium of few happy memories. Punters tempted by odds of 8-1 for a goalless draw soon had reasons to question their wisdom. An athletic early save by Nigel Martyn deprived Duncan Ferguson of a goal in only the third minute after the Scot nimbly powered to the 18-yard line.
Terry Phelan does not score often, but he could have struck twice in a game more exciting than the formbook indicated might be the case. He stabbed a cross by Ferguson wide and then saw Martyn, who chose to join Leeds rather than Everton, push aside a threatening shot.
With Lee Sharpe a dangerous raider on either flank, Leeds should have added to Everton's dismal record at Elland Road, where they last won a League game 46 years ago. A misdirected header by Tony Yeboah poorly rewarded a sudden attack by Sharpe from the left.
Takers at 8-1 lost the bet in the 28th minute. Some careless marking for Lee Bowyer's corner-kick saw Robert Molenaar make an unchallenged run (thanks to his decoys) and head Leeds into the lead. It was the Dutch defender's first goal since his signing from Volendam. Everton defended staunchly and veteran goalkeeper Neville Southall was forced into an agile save to keep out a header by Brian Deane, the chance provided by the strong-running Yeboah.
It continues to be a troubled season for Everton and a disappointing one for Nick Barmby since his signing for £5.75 million from Middlesbrough. The England midfielder was replaced by Michael Branch on the hour after having a minimal influence with his mission to supply Ferguson, who constantly out-jumped defenders without reward.
Everton found a higher gear early in the second half with Claus Thomsen reviving hopes of a salvage operation with an explosive shot from 25 yards. But Everton again had to rely on the guile of goalkeeper Southall to remain in contention when another strong burst by Yeboah took him into a dangerous shooting position. Martyn underlined his skills by alertly grabbing a close-range header by Craig Short.
Report Copyright The Electronic Telegraph
Rob Steen, The Sunday Times: "THEY must be mad," grunted one far-from-gruntled denizen of the press box when the attendance was announced. That 32,055 presumably sane folk deemed this a worthwhile way of spending an afternoon beggared almost as much belief as Everton's lamentable record in these parts.
To describe Elland Road as the Merseysiders' Bermuda Triangle would be something of an understatement. The last time they emerged victorious in a League fixture here, parliament was being opened by a monarch in trousers and Joe Royle's throne was a potty.
They certainly gave as good as they got yesterday, frequently more, but when Duncan Ferguson's goal-bound header at the death was diverted from danger by David Unsworth, the feeling that somebody up there was sniggering was devilishly hard to suppress.
Doubtless emboldened by the absence through injury and suspension of Gary Kelly, Tony Dorigo and Lucas Radebe, three of Leeds's defensive cogs, the grounds for Evertonian optimism on this occasion appeared to have some foundation. As it was, a pitch better suited to grazing than passing merely exposed the lack of quality on both sides.
With 15 clean sheets already in the safe, the suspicion that one Leeds goal would be sufficient loomed ominously large. By the same token, mind, an aversion to disturbing the onion bag - 24 goals now in more than 43 hours, the joint least prolific rate in the Premier League - must have given the visitors further cause for hope, even though they had won just one of their previous 11 League games.
Indeed, as if scenting an opportunity to cock a snook at history, Everton displayed much the greater urgency amid the early exchanges. Nigel Martyn, whom Royle had made strenuous efforts to sign last year, was at full stretch to keep out Ferguson's rasping drive. Then the Scot turned provider, drilling in a low cross for Terry Phelan to steal in at the far post only to rustle the side netting.
Lee Sharpe put in some deft work down the left but the Leeds passing lacked thrust, let alone accuracy, still less perception. Almost inevitably, in their first clear-cut opening, Tony Yeboah's point-blank header proved to be higher, wider and uglier than seemed humanly possible. Whereupon Leeds, naturally, went ahead. Lee Bowyer curled over a corner from the left and Robert Molenaar, unmarked at the near post, happily drew attention to his savagely receding hairline by heading his first goal for the club.
Suitably galvanised, Leeds upped a gear. Brian Deane prompted a sprawling save from Neville Southall, and only Craig Short's last-ditch tackle prevented Gunnar Halle from making more of Carlton Palmer's long ball. The break, however, revitalised Everton, and it was they who then held the whip hand. Shortly after the resumption, Martyn offered a rare glimpse of fallibility by advancing for a corner and grasping thin air. For the remainder, he atoned in style, most notably when using his feet to block a shot from Michael Branch and tipping away a late header from Gary Speed.
And so it went on, the tempo frantic, the paucity of control equally breathtaking. Unsworth's unwitting interception of Ferguson's injury-time strike, exacerbating Everton's relegation worries as it did so, was regrettable on another count. If ever a game ill-deserved a winner, this assuredly was it.
Report Copyright The Sunday Times
Guy Hodgson, The Independent: It cannot be much fun being Joe Royle at the moment. Everton are disintegrating quicker than the Government and ill-luck seems to be giving him such a pummelling that you could be reasonably sure that whoever piled on the angst in this match, there would be an undercurrent flowing. Or in Nigel Martyn's case a raging torrent.
Everton and Martyn have a history, to the extent that the club's financial director, Clifford Finch, accused him of being mercenary when he chose to join Leeds instead last summer. The goalkeeper, meanwhile, has said that he would have moved to Merseyside if there had been more effort to make him feel welcome; like Royle or the chairman, Peter Johnson, finding reasonable time to talk to him.
On Saturday it was apparent who has suffered more. Martyn had already produced an exemplary performance that included a textbook block on Michael Branch as the youngster had a free run at the goal, when he confounded Royle and Everton with a save of outstanding quality in injury time.
Gary Speed was no more than six yards out when Paul Rideout's cross from the right reached him and there was little wrong with his header. The ball shot quick and low to Martyn's right but the keeper fell and stretched in a flash, his arm clawing it away to Speed's astonishment. Everton had been denied a point they deserved and clearly need.
'I think Ray Clemence, England's goalkeeping coach, was here today,' George Graham, the Leeds' manager, said sardonically, 'so no doubt Nigel will get a bad report. He has been fantastic this season. I can't believe he's not in Glenn Hoddle's squad.'
Martyn is playing better than Ian Walker but Hoddle inexplicably preferred the Spurs goalkeeper for last month's World Cup qualifier against Italy. The fact Walker needed pain-killing injections to play at all made the decision even more incomprehensible. Which was of little consolation to Royle whose sad countenance afterwards implied his problems are so great he could not care less who the England goalkeeper is. Everton have lost nine out of their last 13 matches.
Royle ascribed this latest setback to a lapse in concentration that allowed the game's outstanding player, Robert Molenaar, a free header from Lee Bowyer's 28th-minute corner. Saturday's performance was far better than the pathetic showing against Arsenal eight days ago and if Terry Phelan had been sharper with his shooting in the last 20 minutes Royle might have been contemplating a win. The proposed 5 million pound signing of Slaven Bilic is vital now if only to lift spirits.
'It should be resolved one way or another early this week,' Royle said. You hope for his sake negotiations are conducted in a better manner than Martyn's.
Ian Ross, The Guardian: As the curtain descended on a desolate spectacle best forgotten, a thousand and one discarded betting slips caught the evening breeze. It was easy to understand why so many had wagered for here, surely, was a game to plumb the depths and end in a goalless draw. Leeds do not concede goals, Everton rarely score them. An absolute cert. It just had to be.
And then? The applecart is kicked over by a Dutchman with no regard for logic, grinning Yorkshiremen talk excitedly of possible European qualification and snarling Scousers glance nervously at a table which has carried no hint of comfort since there was snow on the ground.
Everton manager Joe Royle bemoaned his side's ill-fortune afterwards but it was a tune lifted from a well-thumbed song sheet.
'It's an understatement to say that we should have got something out of the game,' he said. We created chances, we missed chances. We were then made to suffer for one lapse in concentration.'
Actually, there were many lapses in concentration but only once did Leeds capitalise, Robert Molenaar rising unchallenged and, presumably, unnoticed to head in a Bowyer corner midway through the opening half. To be fair to Royle and his players, that goal should have represented the start of a Leeds fight-back rather than the afternoon's defining moment.
Phelan twice, and Ferguson both missed early chances which would have steadied the nerves of a team which, perplexingly, seems intent on prolonging its agony.
'Everton wouldn't lie down and pounded us at times,' said the Leeds manager, George Graham, in uncharacteristically benevolent mood. 'They have many good players and really should not be where they are at the moment.'
Until Everton's late but fruitless rally this had been the tale of two England internationals, one desperate to reclaim his place, and one seemingly desperate to force himself out of contention. Just as he has been all season, Martyn was outstanding, particularly in denying Everton at the death with a brilliant save to keep out Speed's header.
'I still can't believe he isn't in the squad,' said Graham. 'I worked with David Seaman at Arsenal for six years, so I think I know quite a bit about goalkeepers. Nigel isn't as good as David, but he is definitely up there with the top few.'
As Graham spoke with almost paternal affection of Martyn's achievements, Royle was again left to apologise for the pathetic fumblings of Nick Barmby -- the most expensive footballer in Everton's history.
'He's not quite at his best at the moment,' said Royle sheepishly. Not quite? Really? He was absolutely wretched.
Presumably the latest addition to the roster of well-paid men, Claus Thomsen was out on the pitch only to make Barmby look good. Royle should stop suppressing his instinct for self-preservation and realise that to display unswerving loyalty to any one individual is to invite the condemnation of those not similarly blessed with abundant patience.
Report Copyright The Guardian
Keith Pile, The Times: IN OTHER seasons, a meeting of these sides on FA Cup sixth-round weekend might have been trailed as one of the games of the season. This, though, promised little and delivered as much, save the three points that all but ensure Leeds United's continued membership of the FA Carling Premiership and the defeat that leaves Everton looking ever more anxiously over their shoulders.
That both teams are in what optimistic supporters and stressed managers like to term "a period of transition" is undeniable. Only Carlton Palmer, of Leeds, and the Everton quartet of Southall, Short, Watson and Ferguson started the corresponding fixture 12 months ago, but, for all the excuses, there were enough expensively acquired internationals on sizeable salaries playing on Saturday to have demanded something more than mediocrity.
Even that was beyond some. The Leeds followers cannot have enjoyed watching Yeboah posturing and Rush reduced to the ranks of midfield ball-winners, while Barmby and Unsworth, recent England internationals both, came impressively close to proving that good players can indeed become bad ones overnight. Naturally enough, both managers professed themselves content with their teams, which said something about limited ambitions but perhaps more about the concentration of real talent with those clubs at the business end of the division.
The successes? Martyn, faultless in the Leeds goal, and Palmer, predictably enough, on an occasion made for scufflers. Between them, Wetherall and Molenaar also managed to nullify Ferguson's aerial threat, which is commendable enough if decidedly unriveting, and Molenaar was negligently allowed enough space to head the decisive goal, from Bowyer's corner, in the 28th minute.
Martyn, who had earlier saved competently from Ferguson and Phelan, subsequently did so bravely from Branch and, at the death, spectacularly from Speed's header, guaranteeing Leeds their seventh clean sheet in eight league games, their fifth in a row at home and ninth place in the Premiership: admirably numbing statistics that prompted one outbreak of media hysteria. What about Europe, George Graham was asked. "It's either there or the Caribbean," the Leeds manager replied, adding: "You are talking about holidays, aren't you?"
Joe Royle, the Everton manager, could yet be planning day trips to such exotic resorts as Southend and Swindon. His side, having taken six points out of 36, are in a deep rut at the wrong time, a team without luck - for all their failings they just about deserved a draw here - but also without conviction. Martyn could have joined them when he left Crystal Palace but preferred Leeds and he will not be regretting his decision this morning.
Report Copyright The Times
Tuesday, 11 March 1997
BLACKBURN ROVERS 1-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 20,485 Gallacher(64) Haaland(18)
Monday, 10 March 1997
LIVERPOOL 4-3 NEWCASTLE UNITED 40,751
McManaman(29) Berger(30) Gillespie(71) Asprilla (87) Fowler(42,90) Barton(88)
Saturday, 8 March 1997
ARSENAL 2-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 38,206 Bergkamp(50,pen:79) COVENTRY CITY 0-0 LEICESTER CITY 19,220 LEEDS UNITED 1-0 EVERTON 32,055 Molenaar(28) SUNDERLAND 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED 22,225 Gray(52) Mullin(76) Melville(og:78)
Table after 11 March 1997
Club P W D L GF GA GD Pts Manchester United 29 16 9 4 57 33 24 57 Liverpool 29 16 8 5 50 24 26 56 Arsenal 30 15 9 6 49 26 23 54 Newcastle United 28 14 6 8 54 35 19 48 Aston Villa 29 13 7 9 35 27 8 46 Sheffield Wednesday 28 11 12 5 37 32 5 45 Wimbledon 27 12 8 7 39 32 7 44 Chelsea 27 11 10 6 42 38 4 43 Leeds United 29 11 6 12 24 31 -7 39 Leicester City 28 10 7 11 33 38 -5 37 Tottenham Hotspur 28 10 5 13 34 38 -4 35 Blackburn Rovers 28 7 12 9 29 27 2 33 Everton 29 8 9 12 36 43 -7 33 Derby County 29 7 11 11 31 44 -13 32 Sunderland 29 8 8 13 25 39 -14 32 Coventry City 30 6 12 12 26 39 -13 30 Nottingham Forest 30 6 10 14 25 46 -21 28 Southampton 27 6 7 14 37 46 -9 25 West Ham United 27 6 7 14 24 37 -13 25 Middlesbrough 27 6 7 14 37 49 -12 22* * Includes 3 pts deducted from Middlesbrough for illegal match postponement
This League Table Update not provided by Lawrence "Leagueman" Breakey