Match Preview

After all the drama of the Rooney saga, the anti-climactic transfer deadline day, and this week's EGM, the return of action on the pitch comes as welcome relief.

The post-Rooney era starts at Eastlands, the venue, ironically enough, where he made his last appearance for the Blues in a 5-1 capitulation that merely underlined a dreadful season.

David Moyes will no doubt be the first to urge everyone connected with the club to forget about the departed No 18 and get on with building for the future. 

The manager has made great strides in re-building squad harmony and morale on the evidence so far.  While the Blues traveled to the City of Manchester Stadium back in May on the back of four straight defeats, they take a three-match unbeaten along the M62 for this weekend's clash.

Moyes has few injury concerns thanks to 12 days without a game, which has allowed Joseph Yobo and Thomas Gravesen to hopefully recover from the injuries that ruled them out of the creditable draw at Old Trafford.  Gary Naysmith, however, will miss out after picking up an injury playing for Scotland this week.  Alessandro Pistone will no doubt continue his less-than-stellar tenure at left back.

In the midfield, the traveling Blues fans could get their first look at Everton's first-choice midfield of Leon Osman, Gravesen, Kevin Kilbane and Tim Cahill, the latter having impressed during his hour on the pitch against United.

Up front, Marcus Bent will surely get the nod once more following his impressive start to life at Goodison but, as always, who will partner him is up in the air.  Moyes will likely again opt for the uninspiring choice of Kevin Campbell leaving the raw, unpredictable but erratic James McFadden on the bench.

The keys to this one will be two-fold.  Firstly, if the Everton defence can shackle the pacey Nicolas Anelka and the rising talents of Sean Wright-Phillips and, secondly, if they can score goals against a porous City defence, then victory is there for the taking against another side tipped to struggle at the wrong end of the table this season.

Kevin Keegan's side are unbeaten at home, though, registered their first win of the campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of Charlton in their last fixture and have beaten Everton on the last three meetings of the two sides so it won't be easy for the Blues.  A second-successive away win would do wonders for the confidence, though.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

This will be the 155th meeting between Everton and Manchester City in all competitions, and the 76th away from home.  This match will be the 15th meeting in the Premier League, and the 2nd at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Everton's full record against Man City is:

Our record away to Manchester City is:

The last match between the sides was on the last day of last season, which was Everton's first ever match at the City of Manchester Stadium.  Kevin Campbell scored his only goal of last season as Manchester City ran out easy 5-1 winners.

There have been 5 Everton hat-tricks.  The last of these was on 11 February 1986 when Gary Lineker scored three in Everton's 4-0 victory.  As yet, there have been no Everton hat-tricks at Manchester City.

The most common victory for Everton at City is 1-0 which has happened 14 times in Everton's 54 victories.  Man City's most common victory is also 1-0 happening 16 times in City's 59 victories.  The most common draw between the teams is 1-1, which has occurred 18 times in the 41 draws between the sides.

Everton's record for 11 September is:

This is the first time that the sides have met on this day.  The last match Everton played on this day was in 2002, when Southampton won 1-0 at Southampton.  Interestingly all of Everton's Premier League matches on this day have been away from home.  In 1993, Tony Cottee scored Everton's only goal in a 1-0 victory at Oldham Athletic.  Six years later, in 1999, goals from Scot Gemmill and Nick Barmby saw Everton register a 2-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

Terry Owen was born on this day in 1949 in Liverpool.  Terry signed professional forms in December 1966 and made just 2 league appearances in 1967-68 before being sold to Bradford City in June 1970.

Slaven Bilic was also born on this day in 1968 in Split, Croatia.  Slaven signed from West Ham United in May 1997 and was eventually sold to Hadjuk Split in March 2000.  During his time with the club, Slaven made 30 starts and 2 sub appearances.  He also won 17 caps with Croatia during his Everton career, including a World Cup bronze medal in the 1998 competition.

John Spencer was born in Glasgow on this day in 1970.  John signed from Queen's Park Rangers in May 1998 and lasted less than a year at Goodison Park, when he moved to Motherwell in January 1999.  John made just 5 starts and 4 sub appearances during this time.

Gary Lineker won his first England cap as an Everton player on this day in 1985, against Romania in a World Cup qualifying match which ended 1-1.  Peter Reid and Gary Stevens also in the England team that day.

On the same day, Kevin Sheedy was in the Republic of Ireland team that drew 0-0 with Switzerland, which was also a World Cup Qualifying match.  Six years later, in 1991, Kevin was also involved in Ireland's 2-1 friendly victory over Hungary, scoring one of the goals.

On the same day in 1991, Kevin Ratcliffe won his penultimate Welsh cap whilst at Everton, in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil.  In the same Welsh side was, of course, Neville Southall, who also appeared for Wales on this day a year earlier, 1990, in a 1-0 defeat against Denmark.

On the same day in 1990, John Ebbrell played for England U21 in a 3-01 victory over their Hungarian counterparts.  11 years earlier, in 1979, Billy Wright also won an England U21 cap, in a 1-0 victory over Denmark in a European U21 Championship qualifying match.

Milestone's that can be reached in this game:

• This will David Moyes's 100th game in charge of Everton in all competitions.
• If Duncan Ferguson starts the match, it will be his 150th start for Everton in the league.

Steve Flanagan

Hard-Earned Victory

Steve Bennett nearly ruined my day.  I simply cannot write this match report without starting with the referee.  I’m disgusted.  Not just with Steve Bennett but with Fifa, Uefa and The FA for sending referees onto the pitch like frightened schizophrenics with rulebooks the size they can no longer carry.

First of all, why was Lee Carsley booked?  Why?  Both him and Joey Barton dived into a tackle fully committed.  Studs showing perhaps, but both tried to win the ball (— Barton even did).  Bennett decides to book the two players yet Carsley is awarded the free-kick!?  Was he really booked for being fouled?  How’s that?

Then the sending off.  An absolute disgrace!  In respect to ToffeeWeb.com I won’t repeat my initial verbal reaction to Steve Bennett but it has left a sickening feeling in my stomach.  Tim Cahill scores a great goal which happens to be his first goal for his new club, his first goal in the Premier League and a goal that put us on our way to another massive win.  While celebrating he never fully takes his shirt off and he never taunts the Man City fans yet Steve Bennett decides to show him his second yellow card — I’m absolutely furious!

Over 24 hours later, I still am.  With 30 minutes left, this incapable twat hands Man City a real life-line their performance never earned.  We were in control, deserved our one-goal lead and looked odds on to win this game.  Suddenly, we’re forced to hang on because of the twisted mind of a modern-day football referee.  I still can’t believe it.  I don’t want to believe it ‘cause it’s ruining our game.  Are The FA going to reverse this decision?  No, they’re quite pleased to see referees strictly follow the annual daft rule-changes.  No common sense, no consistency, nothing to do with association football.

I’m sorry, we picked up another great win but Cahill’s sending-off hammered home once again what’s wrong with today’s game.

That out of the way, let's concentrate on the football.  David Moyes decided to stay with the same team that drew 0-0 at Old Trafford, meaning Thomas Gravesen started on the bench and Marcus Bent had to play up front on his own again.  I wasn’t too sure about that decision by the gaffer as City and United are miles apart in quality although never changing a winning team played a huge part in us finishing 7th two seasons ago.

Robbie Fowler and Trevor Sinclair could have done better for City but it was Everton who had the best clear-cut chances.  Steve Watson was denied by a good stop from Calamity James and Marcus Bent was denied a sure goal by an outstanding reflex save from the ‘England Number 1’ but Leon Osman should have scored ‘eyes closed’ with lots of time and space in the box.  To go in 0-0 at half-time was disappointing.

On 60 minutes, Bent held the ball up well, Hibbert delivered a teasing cross and Tim Cahill capped another good performance by opening his account for The Toffees.  1-0 and cruising!  Only for Bennett to reduce us to ten men.

To be honest though, being the poor side Man City are, they never really threatened in the remaining half an hour.  Kevin Keegan has a mountain to climb in Manchester — and was it really our lads’ performance that quietened the home crowd or have they put up signs at the City Of Manchester Stadium saying: “No Smoking.  No Swearing.  No Shouting.  No Signing.  No Talking.  Thank You”?

Another hard-working performance by David Moyes’ men, another huge win and we’re up to 5th in the table!  After the summer we’ve had, who would have thought we would be able to enjoy our best start in 15 years (a sad statistic for a club like Everton that 10 points from a possible 15 is such a rarity?).  Special mentions to Alan Stubbs, who showed all his experience at the back, and Lee Carsley — my Man ofthe Match.  He tackled, he chased and his delivery from free-kicks was excellent.  Bring on the ‘Boro.

• Martyn - 7 had literally bugger all to do, thought he was a bit lucky to get fouls for him went he half punched a couple of times
• Hibbert - 7 superb cross for the ball. City posed no threat down his side and other than the goal his distribution was as usual questionable
• Pistone - 4 did his best to try and put our back four under as much pressure as possible and his distribution was poor — no wonder Moyes is looking to strengthen the full backs
• Stubbs - 8 tower of strength, the 5 in midfield away from home suits both him and Weir
• Weir - 8 ditto Stubbs.  Their strengths are as stoppers and both of them were immense
• Watson - 7 I was surprised that he was playing inside Osman, but he supported Bent well and had a v good effort well saved by calamity
• Carsley - 9 One of his best games for Everton.  Sat in front of the back four and not a lot got through him.  He even looked dangerous taking set pieces
• Cahill - 8 looks very neat and tidy and looks quality on the ball. It early days but looking good for him
• Osman - 7 another neat and tidy performance and doesn't look lightweight. Missed a very easy opportunity when Cahill cleverly set him up, probably telegraphed it too much
• Kilbane - 7 A fairly quiet game from KK, but he was the only player to have played in two internationals last week
• Bent - 6 Struggled I thought being upfront on his own although did provide a good get out ball for the defence and will always give as good as he gets. unlucky not to score with a header and I don't think James knew much about the save
• Gravesen - 7 typical Tommy, looking for the ball and generally using it well. Was the only one supporting the striker once Cahill was sent off
• Naysmith - 6 did he job of doubling up on Wright-Phillips especially as Pistone had been booked
• Ferguson - 6 won plenty of headers but none of them went to anyone. Helped back on set pieces

City were very poor but its good to see our players playing for each other and even better to see them all join in the celebrations when we score.

Rob van Dijk