Match Preview

Two clean sheets at least gives us reason to believe that the kamikaze defending which has so undermined this season may be left behind us.  Three games without scoring, however, mean that problems at that end of the field are rather more surprisingly problematic.

With a clutch of strikers — Rooney, Radzinski, Ferguson, Jeffers and Campbell — to choose from, you wouldn't expect goalscoring to be a problem but this simply underlines the paucity of Everton's creativity in the middle of the park.

The brief emergence of McFadden perhaps shows a signpost for the future but the loss of Watson takes away our one consistent goalscoring midfielder.  The so unlucky Leon Osman must be cursing as now is the obvious time for Moyes to at least give him a chance with Kilbane cup-tied but consistent injuries seem to be scuppering that and he must be concerned about when he will ever get a chance.

Against Charlton, there appear to be few options for Moyes.  Perhaps McFadden moving to the right with Kilbane on the left [Unfortunately, he's cup-tied — Ed] will at least give some genuine width; if Gravesen and Li Tie/Linderoth just play it simple and give them and Rooney some simple but quality ball, we should still be able to get at Charlton.

Charlton's appetite for the game must be questioned.  They are having a good run in the Premiership with the excellent Scott Parker driving them to a win over Liverpool and a very creditable draw with Arsenal — both results that we have failed to match.  However, injuries to Di Canio, Carlton Cole (a Moyes target before Jeffers arrived), Shaun Bartlett and Reds hattrick hero Kevin Lisbie means that they have had to recall Svensson from a loan at Derby and he is likely to go straight into the squad.

Alan Curbishley must also decide whether he wants to give Parker a break, although I have heard no rumours if him doing so it would hardly be surprising if he did.

All in all this will be a close game — our 2-2 draw at the Valley had both teams dominating at different times but, with Yobo returning to form and Weir grasping his opportunity, we should be able to keep their depleted attack quiet.

We do have quality strikers... it is just down to Moyes getting the mix right — hopefully, Wednesday night will see a step in the right direction, though I must say that it is very very difficult.  Aerial power of Dunc with skill of Rooney?  Do you then lose the blistering pace of Radz and movement of Jeffers? Long term I see Jeffers and Rooney as the strikeforce but can we ever discount a fully fit Ferguson?

A good game but an early goal should see Charlton wilt.

2-0

BlueForEver

Lee Doyle

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Steve Milne