Match Summary
What can you say about this one? Since Duncan Ferguson rose majestically to nod home the only goal of the game in February 1995 — eight long years ago — there's only been one result in this fixture.
And it started off in the same old vein, with Everton rolling over and allowing United to run rings around them. Three goals inside the first half hour says it all. Everton were totally outclassed.
But credit to Everton for actually trying to play football on occasions. Despite the presence of Unsworth and Ferguson on the field, the ball was being played down the flanks rather than aimlessly lumped forward. Kilbane was as ever trying to beat them single-handed. But the quality was so lacking.
So... Rooney, Radzinski and Linderoth on at half-time? No, make that Naysmith instead of Linderoth, and what a game he had. Two superb deliveries from corners and Everton were back in it, with the whole team responding to produce an exhilarating second-half recovery.
For the first goal, Ferguson got a critical glancing touch to the corner that carried to Unsworth coming in low behind the massed defence to head just inside the post.
For the second, it was all about Ferguson's presence in the same spot, for the same delivery, that saw the ball strike O'Shea and bounce inside the post. Thank you very much.
The third goal exemplified everything that Everton have not being doing right for these last months. A free-kick won by Kilbane (who once again worked his socks off) well out on the left, swung in to the danger area inch-perfect by the maddening Gravesen, and it was Kilbane who moved forward to connect with power and head it home. 3-3 and all to play for, with United looking rocky.
But Everton either eased off, or had run out of steam, allowing the Red Devils to regain possession, initiative and finally the lead. Ronaldo, roundly booed at every touch, laid on a arrowing cross that van Nistelrooy met at the far post with a bullet header, and Everton were dealt the crushing final blow.
So, all that effort wasted? No. This was far better football from Everton, and far better goalscoring (when did we last score three?). But we still have to figure out how to actually score more goals than the other team. It's wins we need form here on in.
Michael Kenrick
Everton 1-2 Man Utd
2003-04 Match Reports Index
Matchday Stats
This will be the 168th meeting between Everton and Manchester United in all competitions, and the 81st at Goodison Park. This will also be the 24th meeting between the sides in the Premier League, and the 12th at Goodison.
Everton's full record against Manchester United is:
P
W
D
L
F
A
Premier League
23
2
19
17
50
Division One
126
49
33
44
204
178
FA Cup
9
5
0
4
8
6
League Cup
3
1
Charity Shield
Inter Cities Fairs Cup
Screen Sport Super Cup
TOTALS:
167
62
36
69
247
242
Our record against United at Goodison Park is:
11
7
22
63
35
16
12
140
71
80
40
158
99
The last match between the two sides was on Boxing Day when United ended up 3-2 winners at Old Trafford, in a match that saw Duncan Ferguson score the 100th Everton goal under David Moyes. The last match at Goodison Park was the last day of last season when a 2-1 United victory robbed Everton of a UEFA Cup place.
Everton's biggest victory at Goodison Park was a 6-0 victory in the first ever meeting between the clubs in September 1892 which was also Everton's first League victory at their new home of Goodison Park, and was only the second ever League match at Goodison Park, following a 2-2 draw three weeks earlier against Nottingham Forest.
The most common victory at Goodison Park, for Everton, is 2-0 which has happened in 6 of the 40 Everton victories. Almost half of the draws between the sides at Goodison have ended 0-0 (8 times out of 17 draws), with Manchester United chalking up a 2-0 and 2-1 victory five times each in their 23 victories in total.
Everton's record for 7 February is:
Division Two
This will be the first meeting between the two sides on this date. Everton's last match on this date was in 2001 when Leeds United arrived at Goodison to battle out a 2-2 draw. Everton's last victory on this date was in 1987 when the march on the title saw Coventry City beaten 2-0.
Milestone's that can be reached in this game:
Steve Flanagan
Hail Mary
It was compelling stuff. It really was. I set off very early for this one from London, and was back in Wirral by about 10:30am on Saturday morning. Plenty of time. Sit back and relax. Enjoy your cup of tea and toast. Well within about half an hour of being "home" I was bored silly and was itching to get to the game. Even started doing some cleaning to keep myself entertained.
So I set off and I think it was about 12:30pm when I made the pub. Was on my own for a while watching Celtic take the piss with Hearts which at first I was happy with, until it dawned on me that the very same thing could happen this afternoon. Man Utd really could wipe the floor with Everton.
Well for a while it looked quite likely. Extremely likely in fact. Steve had told us the team news in the pub and it was what I wanted (apart from Radz not starting). Big Dunc and Jeffers up front, Watson wide right and Stubbs passing his fitness test in time to play, while the bench looked particularly promising with Ronney, Radzinski, Naysmith, Linderoth and Simonsen all there, a pretty good mix overall.
I think both teams started fairly brightly, with Man Utd obviously the more predominant. They attacked with a quick corner; we attacked back with a loud penalty claim, or at least a free kick. Watson and O'Shea both slid in for a 50/50 ball tigerishly. Watson won it, tried to get back up and carry on in the box when O'Shea just grabbed his legs while he was down so he couldn't move. O'Shea: can't stand that lad. Every time he runs and looses possession he throws his hands in the air and turns in the direction of the referee. Knowing damned well he'll get a free kick for it. Bloody cheat. Although there are worse... More later.
It was not long after that with just 8 mins gone when Man Utd scored. Saha (looked offside but shown to be level with the Everton defenders as he timed his run perfectly while they stood back and claimed in vain) through on goal and half-volleying it nicely into the corner so Everton were 0-1 down.
We attacked back quite well, with the bald twins both making opportunities for themselves. Gravesen with a half-volley hitting the side netting from 18 yards, and Carsley with a snap shot on the turn forcing a save out of Howard in goal. Then before we knew it, another quick attack from Man Utd, crap defending by Everton, a good finish by another cheat, and Everton were 0-2 down. Inside 25 minutes.
It got worse. The heads dropped (understandably to be fair) and Man Utd were simply awesome. Everton couldn't wait until half time, and at this point when they switched off, demoralized. Saha punished Stubbs for some slack defending, and Everton were 0-3 down in side the half-hour.
It could have gotten even worse! Saha and that bloody cheat both missing great chances, and I really did feel sorry for Everton. I don't even think Real Madrid could have done anything about that. Man Utd were, simply put, world class. Scholes, for me, in particular, had a superb game. Excellent on the ball, made you shit one every time he had it on the edge of the area, and some decent passing. An all-round brilliant display.
While for Everton, Jeffers tried but failed, but kept working, even chasing back to his own pnalty box on one occasion. If your reading this, Franny: Keep your head up lad, your time will come.
The half-time whistle could not have come quickly enough. Gary went for a piss 10 minutes before the break, and when I saw him later on, he said that the number of people leaving at half-time was incredible. The hail came down big time, and it was time to start praying. I met up with the two Ste's at half time, and we all agreed that, if it went to about 4-0 or 5-0, we'd leave — and I very rarely leave early — that's how upsetting it was. We knew damned well that Moyes would change it at half time, and change it he did.
The right changes as well. Jeffers, Watson and the disinterested Pistone off; Rooney, Radzinski and Naysmith on. All of whom were brilliant in the second half. We needed an early goal, and Unsworth got us just that. Superbly stooping to head home Naysmith's in swinging corner in Andy Gray'esque fashion, to reverse the red tide and give us a glimmer of hope.
Goals change games, and we were right back in it shortly afterwards with Ferguson seemingly connecting with another excellent corner from Naysmith and heading it in, although it was actually an own goal from that twat O'Shea. Good!
Everton were now playing with self-belief, while Man Utd quite honestly went to pieces. From another set piece, Gravesen this swung in a masterful free-kick, and Kilbane powered home an unstoppable header — I don't think anyone could quite believe their eyes. It was absolutely amazing! All the money I've spent on Everton this season paid back: trains to Middlesbrough, coaches to Fulham, all the home games I go to — all paid back there and then! I've never heard Goodison so loud and proud. It was amazing.
Rooney had a chance between all that which Howard saved superbly by the way, and Ferguson headed just over the bar, onto the roof of the net. That's how good Everton were.
Then, we took our foot of the peddle a bit. It was fairly understandable because it really was some comeback, and we really had given everything. The only thing was, Man Utd were rattled and quite honestly, were there for the taking, but we didn't exploit them. And against Man Utd we all knew, if you don't exploit them, they'll exploit you.
Ronaldo came on, and Naysmith was brilliant against him, but he beat him once and that was all it took. Between them Man Utd had gotten, no sorry, been gifted free kicks by the ref, to no avail. Giggs had two chances, both saved by Martyn, to no avail. Saha hit wide, to no avail. But one cross, that bloody cheat climbing all over Hibbert to head in, and then rubbing Everton's noses in it by pointing directly at Everton fans (talk about inciting violence). Even at the end he was pointing at his Man Utd badge as he ran off. Can't stand him. At the end of the day, that goal would not have been given at the other end.
Radzinski then came close, with his trademark shot across goal, and Man Utd finished the game off winners. Before that, Ronaldo must have said something to some Evertonian in the Paddock, and the lad went ballistic. It took four stewards and the most part of Merseyside Police to stop him as the lad I think would have quite honestly battered Ronaldo, and it took a few United players to stop Ronaldo going back at him. God knows what was said. A bottle was thrown on the pitch, and frustration boiled over.
Overall, we did not deserve to loose this one. That's twice this season we've lost to Man Utd by the odd goal. Our luck against them, and in general, will, with the law of averages, have to change. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Ratings:
Overall: I will not fault the blue boys. Our luck will change soon. 8
Paul Trail
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