Match Preview

With part one of the Blues' tricky festive programme going as expected (at least in terms of the result), Everton return to Goodison Park to face 8th-placed Birmingham City hoping to get back to winning ways.

The customary defeat at Old Trafford will either have depressed the players as the enormous gulf between Everton and Manchester United was again starkly illustrated, or they will have been buouyed by the knowledge that with a little more attacking purpose, they might have come away with a point, albeit against United's second string.

Whatever the hangover is from Boxing Day, David Moyes must get his side focused and positive in what is an important fixture. A draw or defeat to Steve Bruce's Midlanders will not be the best preparation for the potential banana skin posed by Norwich City in the Cup or the visit of Arsenal after that, especially given the slender margin between the Toffees in 14th place and the relegation zone three points below.

Moyes will certaimly make changes in his formation for this encounter, reverting back to 4-4-2 from the defensive-minded five-man midfield that succumbed to the Red Devils. Tomasz Radzinski could return after missing the trip down the M62 with a slight calf strain but even if he fails to pass a late fitness test, it is unlikely that the manager will start with Wayne Rooney. It wouldn't be all that surprising if Duncan Ferguson and Francis Jeffers started up front in place of Kevin Campbell and The Boy; much will depend on Moyes's views on Campbell's poor display at Old Trafford.

One man who deserves to get the nod in right midfield is James McFadden following another very positive substitute's appearance, and with Tobias Linderoth possibly a little bruised from the United game and neither he nor Li Tie doing much to convince anybody they can be effective in central midfield, the Scot could get a starting berth wide on the right. However, he will face competition from Lee Carsley who could also be fit in time, although it wouldn't be all that surprising to see both players restored to the starting line-up.

At the back, although the central defence is crying out for the pace and marking of Joseph Yobo and the dependability of David Weir, Moyes will be stuck with Alan Stubbs and David Unsworth because of injury to the former two. Tony Hibbert continues at right back in the absence of Alessandro Pistone and he will be grateful for a less torrid afternoon than the one he experenced against Cristiano Ronaldo.

Birmingham will have to do without midfield dynamo David Dunn and striker Clinton Morrisson as both took knocks against Manchester City, while Christophe Dugarry is still sidelined by a knee injury and Jamie Clapham is also struggling to be passed fit.

That means that Stern John, who scored from the penalty spot in the corresponding fixture last season, will probably pose the attacking threat up front alongside the in-form Mikael Forssell, while Aliou Cisse is expected to deputise for Dunn in midfield.

After going down 3-1 at Liverpool and being mauled on their own ground by Blackburn, The Midlanders seem to have righted their ship with wins over Leicester (A) and at home to Manchester City on Boxing Day. Both games between these two teams ended 1-1 last season and although Everton are unbeaten in 20 home matches against Birmingham, this will not be an easy fixture for Moyes's men.

Much will depend on how the midfield lines up and performs and whether Radzinski is in the line-up to cause the usual problems in the opposition defence with his pace.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

This will be the 111th meeting between Everton and Birmingham City in all compeitions, and the 56th at Goodison Park. It is also the 3rd meeting in the Premiership and the 2nd at Goodison.

Everton's full record against Birmingham City is:

Our record at Goodison Park is fairly comprehensive:

The last match between the two sides was on Boxing Day last season, with the teams battling out a 1-1 draw with Tomasz Radzinski getting the goal. The last match at Goodison Park was earlier in the season when a late David Unsworth goal ensured another 1-1 draw between the teams.

Everton are currently enjoying a seven game unbeaten run against Brimingham, following Birmingham's 1-0 victory at St Andrews in April 1983. Everton's unbeaten run against Brimgham City at Goodison currently stands at 21 matches, with Birmingham's last victory coming in November 1957.

Everton's biggest victory was a 5-0 win at Goodison Park in September 1894. Everton's biggest defeat at Goodison Park was 5-0 in September 1948, and was one of Theo Kelly's last games in charge of the club as he was replaced by Cliff Britton 17 days later.
The most common margin of victory at Goodison Park is shared between 2-1 and 4-1, whilst Birmingham's most common victory is 2-0. The most common drawing score is 1-1.

Everton's record for 28 December not as comprehensive:

This will be the first time the teams have met on this day.

Milestone's that can be reached in this game:

If Wayne Rooney scores a hat-trick before the end of the season, he will be beat William Dean's record of the youngest ever Everton player to score three goals in a match.

Steve Flanagan

Report

 

Steve Milne