Match Summary
Tonight's big surprise was no sign of Francis Jeffers for this one as David Moyes stuck with the eleven players who finished the rollercoaster game against Manchester United. Rooney was hopefully playing just behind the front two where he could do some damage, and not stuck out on the right wing. Campbell and McFadden were among the subs after both had shaken off injuries.
Forssell capitalized on an early Carsley mistake to fire at Martyn, who saved comfortably at the start, Everton replying with a couple of early corners. But Everton were not convincing and it didn't take long for the Toffees to fall behind to a soft goal from Johnson — his first of the season. His weak shot was somehow allowed to dribble in at the far post
The two teams then slogged it out fairly evenly for the much of the half, with failing to impose themselves or creating chances of note. Savage was, as usual, putting himself about and causing trouble but more significantly, Taylor did not have a single save to make.
Then just before half-time Lazaridis doubled the damage, running purposefully on the break following a sustained Everton attack and drilling in a high shot across Martyn into the roof of the net. Up against it? Nah... we only need three goals....
Rooney and Savage then had a go at each other amid signs that tempers could easily flare and Rooney could find himself drawn into a booking or worse against the narky Welsh git. The half finished in the depressing knowledge that once again, Everton had failed to perform during another critical half of Premiership football.
After half-time, Pistone and Campbell came on for Unsworth and Ferguson following another roasting for the team from David Moyes. Too many lumped balls from Unsie to Dunc?
Despite the changes, Stubbs made a silly mistake allowing Savage to push the ball to Forssell, and it was suddenly 3-0. Ho hum. But at least it is comforting to know that the pundits have ruled out relegation for Everton this season, on the basis that David Moyes apparently won't let it happen.
Forssell then hit the post with a great header as Everton were being overrun by Birmingham and showed no signs of repeating Saturday's stirring comeback. McFadden came on in place of Radzinski, but Dugarry came on in place of Savage; which of those two changes will be more influential???
Pistone saved the fourth goal with a vital headed interception but it was all one-way traffic with Everton looking very sad and sorry indeed, lacking in craft and guile.
McFadden tumbled down in the area but no decision was given, providing yet another opportunity for David Moyes to blame the referee for our unseemly demise.
Hughes then blasted one in that hit the corner of the goal frame, making it look like what it was: a slaughter. Rooney got through near the end, great control, great shot, hit post: no score.
Birmingham 1-1 Everton
2003-04 Match Reports Index
Match Preview
As is becoming a feature of this season, you really don't know whether to be optimistic or fearful following Saturday's rolloercoaster against Manchester United which saw the Blues almost claw their way out of the enormous hole they dug themselves only to be denied by Ruud van Nistelrooy's late winner.
Obviously, there were positives from the second half fightback but doubts about our defensive infalibilities persist in the absence of Messers Yobo and Weir. And we're left to wonder which Everton will emerge at St Andrews for this midweek clash with Birmingham City who, after a decent start to the season, are tailing off towards mid-table medicority.
Having taken just two points from the last 15 available, Steve Bruce's City provide the perfect opportunity to start putting a little more distance between ourselves and the relegation zone.
They have been struggling for goals — it's seven matches since they last won by more than one goal — but, the 3-4 defeat at the hands of United aside, David Moyes's Everton have also had difficulty finding the net regularly this season, having racked up just four goals in all competitions since Wayne Rooney's solitary strike was enough to beat the Brum Blues on December 28th.
Birmingham are likely to be without star midfielder David Dunn as well as Stephen Clemence but Christophe Dugarry is expected to start up front.
For Everton, Joseph Yobo is in action for Nigeria against Tunisia in the African Nations Cup semi-finals and Li Tie is also on international duty, while Kevin Campbell, Richard Wright and David Weir are sidelined with injury.
Moyes's starting line-up will be an interesting one. Despite his scoring heroics in the cup games against Fulham, Francis Jeffers was hauled off after 45 minutes against United to be replaced by Rooney who had an excellent game alongside Tomasz Radzinski, so look for either of those two to start with Duncan Ferguson, with the other on the bench alongside Jeffers.
In midfield, James McFadden is back in contention but will be lucky to make the bench given the return of Steve Watson and the option of Lee Carsley or Rooney wide right. That is a shame because he provides a unique dynamic to the team and he needs first-team experience if he is to mature into the kind of player his talent promises.
In defence, the frustratingly erratic Alessandro Pistone could well lose his left back berth to the equally inconsistent Gary Naysmith who had a storming game at the weekend after replacing the Italian at half time.
Matchday Stats
This will be the 112th meeting between Everton and Birmingham City in all competitions, and the 56th at Birmingham. The first six away matches were played at Muntz Street meaning that this match will be the 50th between the sides at St. Andrews. This will also be the 4th meeting between the sides in the Premier League, and the 2nd at St Andrews.
Everton's full record against Birmingham City is:
P
W
D
L
F
A
Premier League
3
1
2
0
Division One
98
52
26
20
192
120
Division Two
6
8
14
FA Cup
4
5
TOTALS:
111
57
30
24
209
141
Our record away to Birmingham is:
49
19
15
72
64
10
55
17
18
80
79
The last match between the two sides was on 28 December last year when Everton won 1-0 at Goodison Park which was also Everton's last victory in the league to date. The last meeting at St Andrews was Boxing Day of 2002 when the honours were shared in a 1-1 draw with Tomasz Radzinski getting Everton's goal.
Everton's biggest victory at Birmingham is a 3-0 victory which has happened three times in the series. The last being in January 1975. Everton's heaviest defeat at Birmingham is by 4 clear goals in 4 different matches (0-4 twice with 1-5 and 2-6 being registreed once each). The last of these was a 2-6 defeat on Boxing Day 1955.
The most common victory at Birmingham, for Everton, is 2-0 which has happened in 5 of the 20 Everton victories. 6 of the 17 draws between the sides have ended 1-, with Birmingham City chalking up a 1-0 victory five times in their 18 victories in total.
Everton's record for 11 February is:
13
16
27
This will be the second meeting between the two sides on this date, after the 2-2 draw in the 1939 FA Cup at Birmingham. This will be the first Premier League match that Everton have played on this date. Everton's last match on this date was fifteen years ago in 1989 when Everton earned a 1-1 draw at Southampton.
Milestone's that can be reached in this game:
Steve Flanagan
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