Idan Tal came on at half-time and immediately livened things up, but Burnley pushed hard to get back on level terms.  On 65 mins, Walter Smith rang the changes, giving the travelling Blues contingent the sight they had been waiting for: Thomasz Radzinski taking to the field.

Excellent Account!

Generally a deserved victory for Everton, who looked fit and powerful, although yet to come to terms fully with each other on the field.

Simonsen played the whole game in goal and looked decidedly less shaky than I have seen him before.  Of the defenders, Unsworth (left side), Weir (centre right) and Watson (right side) looked steady, with Watson exploiting the space on the right with some good runs and crosses.  

Pistone - sporting more hair than last season - made some good challenges although he showed no more enthusiasm for movement off the ball than during his 'stoned' period in the spring.  

Stubbs had a solid game and showed an aptitude for long, accurate balls to set Unsworth, Watson and Alexandersson away.  Later Xavier looked less than impressive although the Burnley forward who insisted on bouncing off him for free-kicks must have caused frustration.

Gemmill was my pick of the midfielders, looking sharp, strong and intelligent on the ball.  Gravesen was a little inconsistent but remained popular to the end with a bit of fist shaking, and a special party-piece on the Everton right, on the goal line, chipping the ball over the defender and following up with a cross that should have been converted.  

Alexandersson played as an attacking right-side midfielder and showed the strengths of a wide striker - though it was much the same as watching his prolific form last pre-season.  Tal was his impressive replacement, carrying some welcome weight and looking as quick-footed as ever.

Up front there were good contributions from Ferguson - running freely for the first time since his return - and Campbell who looks to have regained some fitness.  Cadamarteri proved why he will never make a striker or a winger, and squandered the few opportunities that he had on the ball in the 15 minutes or so he was on.

Gazza's appearance was purely cameo as he crossed the pitch at the end - fully scally with his shell suit and sweatshirt tied around the waist - looking extremely large but hopefully due to the clothes.

Finally, the attraction for many of the 3 or 4 thousand Evertonians was the 20-minute run out given to Tomasz Radzinski.  The question will be asked as the season progresses whether it was good business to let Franny go for £10M and bring in the former Anderlecht man as we did.  On the strength of what was seen tonight the answer will be yes. 

Shorter and more stocky than I recalled, the Canadian showed frightening pace, seemingly hitting the ground running every time and leaving players in all areas of the field for dead.  His use of the ball was good and generally complimented by a spritely looking Joe-Max Moore. 

Radzinski's game style was very similar to Jeffers, made of diagonal runs across the line of defence, impossible to defend and great for the midfield.  On a couple of occasions he got beyond the defence from well on side and was unfortunate that he was not well supported in the box.  The major difference between the new man and Jeffers is a seeming willingness to be a team player, to run off the ball AND to lay the ball off and provide for his colleagues.

Without getting carried away with what was essentially a fitness exercise, it was encouraging that the players looked lively and showed some touches of class.  Interesting to see how the team sheet develops between now and the first game...

A start for Gravesen and Simonsen (who looked quite useful tonight); Walter sticking to his 3-5-2 formation, which doesn't go down too well with the quite healthy Everton following.  It was Ferguson who on 7 mins blasted over the bar from 6 yds out, although it did take a wee deflection.  A minute later, Simonsen made a spectacular one-handed save but it was Alexandersson who made the real difference.  Watson with the cross, Dunc with the lay-off header and Alexandersson who calmly side-footed to make it 1-0.

Half time: Burnley 0 - 1 Everton

The subs came on: Tal, Xavier came in from the cold.  Cadamarteri, Gemmill, Cleland and then the new boy Radzinski.  Now Radzinski, supposedly, has a slight groin strain; well, let me tell you something…  this guy can run!  I have not seen someone in an Everton shirt with such speed for a long time.  He looked the part.  Let's hope he can create some goals wearing the royal blue of Everton.  

Apart from the substitutions, there wasn't much action in the second half.  Pistone saw his shot go over the bar from on close range following an Unsworth corner.  Radzinski had a shot saved by the Burnley keeper, and Joe-Max Moore's follow-up went over the bar.  Tal was the only other person to have a shot on target in the second half.

A good workout (although a worrying sight was Alexandersson limping onto the team bus...).