Match Summary

Per Krøldrup: £5M bench warmer

David Moyes named an unchanged side, as expected, with Beattie and Ferguson leading the line for an attacking 4-4-2 formation, Per Krøldrup still on the bench, awaiting his debut.

The initial period of probing saw both sides expressing intent to go forward, with a couple of shots coming from distance, and Boro looking the more threatening, their two strikers supported by a hungry five-man midfield.  But Everton started to press after 15 mins and good work by Van der Meyde won a couple of corners.

An excellent cross from Van der Meyde came in for James Beattie after a short-corner exchange with Phil Neville and his header was well placed to give Everton a priceless lead — a priceless striker's goal from open play.  Van der Meyde provider of a second goal from open play in just his second start for Everton.

Everton weathered the storm that came at them from 'Boro after the goal as they piled on the pressure, shooting freely from distance.  A great ball from Mendietta set up Yakubu but Martyn was out smartly to make a terrific save.

Hibbert got a good cross in to set Beattie up for another chance but his header went just over.  But 'Boro were making a strong fist of things, showing determination to get an equalizer and getting plenty of the ball, but rarely getting deep enough into the Everton defence, Mendiatta always the primary threat. Everton went in at the break with their goal intact after a good half of football.

At the start of the second half, Beattie showed some better initiative, chasing the ball down as Everton pressed to contain 'Boro.  A great sweeping move started with Arteta to Van der Meyde but a flicked ball to Neville did not quite come off.  Steve McLaren decided it was time to change things for 'Boro, with Viduka coming on for Yakubu.  Moyes than replaced Davies, whose left thigh was troubling him.

It was an excellent spell for Everton after half-time, with lots of positive play to appreciate.  Ferguson went close, as Viduka also tried to inspire 'Boro, getting them to push Everton back as the pendulum swung once again.  The need for a second Everton goal was imperative.

Van der Meyde was withdrawn after an hour Moyes still not convinced the Dutchman is ready for a full 90 mins, with McFadden on in his place.  McFadden proceeded to do his usual thing, a great run from a super Yobo header, but he crucially failed to release the ball to Hibbert's intelligent overlap and the opportunity was lost.

Bent then on for Ferguson as 'Boro continued to look for the equalizer, but Arteta was lively in driving Everton back at them.  Bent swept up the field and delivered a great ball to McFadden who put in a first-time layoff to Beattie but the cross was bouncing and Beattie fierce volley smashed into the Middlesbrough bar... what a fantastic goal that would have been!

But still danger from 'Boro, who won a dangerous free-kick that Mendieta could only put into the Everton wall.  The tempo and the tension built into the last 10 mins, with action at both ends, corners and shots coming from 'Boro who could not quite believe the reversal from last weekend after their stunning defeat of Manchester United.

With one minute to go, Quedrue headed a Boro corner on to the bar.  Viduka tried everything to get in for a shot to really test the Everton defence. 

Everton broke very well to ease the pressure, McFadden and Beattie breaking well but McFadden's shot was pathetic when he could have rolled in a winner.

Everton resisted well and held on for a precious home win — the first in the Premiership this season — moving them out of the bottom three to 16th place.  Corner definitely turned!

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Unbeaten in two games and finally with another win under their belts, Everton get another crack at Middlesbrough just over a fortnight after the northeasterners dumped them out of the Carling Cup at Goodison.  Unfortunately, it won't be the erratic, uncertain 'Boro coming to town but the 'Boro who annihilated Manchester United last weekend and precipitated Sir Alex Ferguson's current crisis.

David Moyes's side have clearly responded to the Lake District getaway with two decent league performances and four precious points but, while the improved effort and team unity is welcome, the attacking shortcomings that have plagued the Blues all season remain.

With the defence seemingly more resilient in recent weeks and the midfield slowly coming together with Simon Davies's improved form and Andy van der Meyde's developing fitness, the source of the manager's headache continues to be the lack of pace and ingenuity up front.

Marcus Bent has the speed and the workrate that James Beattie lacks but his confidence has hit rock bottom following an unsettling summer and a lack of first-team opportunities of late... that despite the fact that he's the only striker on the books to have scored in the Premiership from open play this season!

Duncan Ferguson being similar in style and stature to Beattie isn't helping the cause but we should probably be content with the fact that 4-4-2 appears to be the formation of choice at the moment.  And with James McFadden having proven that he doesn't have the cutting edge to be a solution in attack, and James Vaughan only just back in training, we'll have to bide our time before all options are explored.

Van der Meyde is showing, though, that he can provide some of the ammunition for the strikers... all we need now is for one of them to start converting the chances.  Their cause will be helped by the continuity afforded by what is likely to be an unchanged line-up.  Nuno Valente, Matteo Ferrari, Gary Naysmith, Alessandro Pistone, and Lee Carsley remain sidelined with their respective injuries.

Of course, no changes means no place for Per Krøldrup who, we assume, has been fit enough to play for a while now but a combination of loyalty to David Weir and the Scot's seemingly settled partnership with Joseph Yobo means that Moyes may be reluctant to disrupt things at the back while he doesn't have to.

This should prove to be a stern test of the Blues' mini-revival.  'Boro are a talented side and will have their tails up with back-to-back wins over United and Dnipro in the Uefa Cup.  But if Everton can keep tight at the back and leverage the creative outlets of Arteta and Van der Meyde down the flanks, they can hopefully do enough to edge Steve McLaren's side by the odd goal.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Stats

Sunday sees the 121st meeting between Everton and Middlesbrough.  This will also be the 61st meeting at Goodison Park and the 53rd in the League.

Everton's full record against Middlesbrough is:

Our record at home to Middlesbrough is:

There have been 6 Everton hat-tricks against Middlesbrough over the years with the last one being scored by Tommy Lawton on 11 March 1939 in a 4-4 draw at Middlesbrough, with Lawton getting all 4 Everton goals.

The most common victory for Everton is 2-1 which has happened 13 times in Everton's 55 victories.  Boro’s most common victory over Everton is 1-0, which has happened 9 times in their 32 victories. The most common draw between the sides is 1-1, which has happened 15 times in the 33 draws between the sides.

Everton's record for 6 November is:

This is the second time the clubs have met on this day.  The last time the clubs met on this day was in 1937 when Everton won 2-1 at Middlesbrough with Tommy Lawton getting both goals.

Ron Saunders was born on this day in 1932 in Birkenhead.  After signing professional forms in February 1951, Ron made just 3 appearances for Everton before moving on to Tonbridge in July 1956.  No doubt he will be remembered as being the Aston Villa manager in the 1977 League Cup final against his former side.

Alan Ball, Brian Labone and Tommy Wright were all in the England side that drew 0-0 against Romania in a friendly match on this day in 1968.

Milestones that can be reached this game:

·          If he starts, David Weir will be making his 200th start for Everton in the League.

Steve Flanagan

Resilient Everton eke out another vital win

Everton are out of the bottom three after finally recording their first home win of the season against resurgent Middlesbrough.  James Beattie's headed goal 16 minutes into the first half set David Moyes's side on their way to a second-successive 1-0 victory, but it took a determined defensive stand in the last quarter of the match to deny the visitors what would have arguably been an undeserved point.

Moyes started the game with an unchanged line-up, partnering James Beattie with Duncan Ferguson once more and deploying Andy van der Meyde and Mikel Arteta on the flanks either side of Tim Cahill and Simon Davies.  With all his left backs injured, the manager had to again rely on Phil Neville to deputise in that position and there was, again, no place in the side for £5M defender Per Krøldrup.

Middlesbrough started strongly from kick off and when Gaizka Mendiata went down under Cahill's challenge on the edge of the area — it looked a fair tackle but it was hard to tell for sure — the Spaniard fired a free kick into the wall and then, when a resulting cross wasn't cleared, shot the rebound just wide.

Five minutes later, Tony Hibbert was fortunate not to concede a penalty when his challenge checked the progress of George Boateng but the Dutchman refused to go down and the danger was eventually cleared.  Yakubu then tried his luck with a tame side-footer from outside the box that was easily saved by Nigel Martyn.

At the other end, Beattie and Ferguson were getting no change at all from the typically abysmal refereeing of Mike Riley, the former left to appeal for a foul in vain after being cut down on the edge of the area after 12 minutes.  Beattie was then put in by a superb pass by Arteta but with the crowd baying for a shot, the striker elected to cut back and was dispossessed by two 'Boro defenders.

Two minutes later, though, it was all academic.  Van der Meyde played a short corner one-two with Phil Neville before sweeping a perfect cross in to the near post and Beattie rose to direct the ball past Mark Schwarzer.  Goodison erupted as the goalscorer was mobbed by his teammates following his first goal from open play this season.

Middlesbrough responded immediately and when Yakubu was put into the clear one-on-one with Martyn the Blues' keeper did an impeccable job of closing down the opportunity and then smothering the ball as the Nigerian striker tried to take it around him.  It was a crucial stop, coming as it was at a time when Everton were giving the ball away far too cheaply with the long-ball game to Ferguson and Beattie.

When Ferguson did win an aerial challenge the ball either went straight to a 'Boro midfielder or the referee blew for a foul.  What did work for the Blues — getting the ball down the flanks and crossing from level with the area — was used all-too seldomly but almost paid rich dividends on the half hour when Hibbert found Beattie with a cross from the right but the forward could only guide a good header narrowly over the bar.

In contrast to earlier in the season, Everton were on the whole confident on the ball, accurate in their passing and purposeful going forward.  Arteta was majestic in midfield, tackling tigerishly and breaking with speed from deep to set up attacks.  But, while Beattie and Ferguson couldn't be faulted for effort, their lack of pace meant that many such attacks fizzled out or ended with a poor final ball.

The one outlet that did offer speed and flair was badly under-utilised.  It looked very much as though the team has not yet adjusted to having someone like Van der Meyde in the side; on a number of occasions his attempts to give and go down the line were ignored by Cahill and Neville who turned inside instead and opted for the right flank instead.  Perhaps it was because Kevin Kilbane has been such a let-down down the left this season and the players have more faith in the Arteta-Hibbert combination, but the Blues' new No 27 went through long spells out of the game.  Even periodically switching flanks with Arteta made little difference.  He made up for it in large doses, though, with some excellent tracking back which broke up some dangerous 'Boro attacks which contributed to a 1-0 scoreline at half-time.

The second half started in less dramatic fashion than the first but after letting too much go to both sides in the first half, referee Riley started cracking down with a yellow card for Rochembach for scything Tony Hibbert down on the right touchline.

Everton went the closer of the two sides first, though, when wonderful work by Arteta on the right edge of the area ended with a dangerous ball in towards the 'keeper that Ugo Ehiogu almost diverted into his own goal. Two minutes later, Beattie blasted a direct free kick in Arteta territory high over the bar before Davies, who had had a very good game in central midfield, was withdrawn for Kilbane, presumably because of an injury picked up in a tackle a couple of minutes beforehand.

As the game inched past the hour mark, a poor display by Neville was compounded with booking for a foul on Queudrue and Van der Meyde followed him into the referee's notebook for sweeping Parnaby's legs from underneath him.  It was the tiring Dutch winger's last action of the game before being substituted for James McFadden.

At this point, the Blues had done a sterling job of restricting Middlesbrough to tame shots from outside the area.  Mendieta and Boateng's efforts to create chances with threaded balls on the edge of the area were consistently disrupted by feverish tackling by the faultless Joseph Yobo, David Weir, Cahill, Arteta and Hibbert across the back line.  In fact, before the last few minutes, the visitors hadn't been allowed to create a genuine scoring opportunity in the second half.

Instead, it was Everton who should have doubled their lead when Marcus Bent, on for Duncan Ferguson, ended a surging run with a lovely angled pass to McFadden who spotted Beattie in space and found him with an inch-perfect first-time ball. Beattie, though, opened his body up too much and appeared to fire the ball off his shin and onto the crossbar from 8 yards out.

Down the other end, an increasingly urgent 'Boro wasted another direct free kick opportunity when Mendieta shot into the wall once more and Doriva's half-volley was comfortably gathered by Martyn.  Then, in the last minute of normal time, Queudrue almost scored, rising to meet Mendieta's corner but, thankfully, powering his header off the top of the bar and into the Park End.

With the visitors chasing the game, the last chance fell to Everton as gaps appeared at the back but when McFadden found himself inside the area with the choice of a shooting opportunity or a pass to Bent to his right, the Scot dithered and chose neither spurning another good chance to seal the game.

It was immaterial, though, as the whistle blew soon afterwards and the long-suffering Goodison faithful were finally able to savour a home win — no mean feat against a talented Middlesbrough side coming off the back of a 4-1 demolition of Manchester United and a handsome 3-0 win in the Uefa Cup on Thursday night.

Yet, there is still plenty of room for improvement in the Everton ranks which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the campaign if they can make them.  The reliance on the long ball to the front two was markedly less effective than when the midfield was allowed to build attacks with neat passing and intelligent wing play, something they have struggled to do consistently this season but appeared to have got right today.

They must also find a way to build attacks around the pace and trickery or Van der Meyde who was a often spectator as the ball was moved from left to right across the midfield. That will probably change as his fitness improves and a left-footer is restored to the left-back position. Neville had a nightmare first half and while he improved slightly in the second, on this evidence the return of a natural left full-back can't come soon enough.

Overall, though, it would be churlish to overly criticise what was a fantastic team performance, full of determined defending, tenacious midfield tackling and some wonderfully fluid forward moves.  Three more points lifts us out of the relegation zone and offer hope of a steady rise towards the top half of the table — where a team with this much talent in its ranks clearly belongs.

Player Ratings:

Martyn 6 — Wasn't called upon to do too much but made one superb save from Yakubu shortly after the Blues' goal.  Flapped badly at one high ball that almost put the team in danger, might have positioned himself better for Queudrue's late effort and could have eschewed the long punt at the end in favour of bowling the ball out to a defender in order to keep possession.
Hibbert 7 — Excellent defensively and again showed improved crossing from the right.  Still a little sloppy with his passing at times going forward but an otherwise solid display
Yobo 9 — As usual, he was impeccable in defence. Perfect tackling, towering in the air and intelligent with his distribution
Weir 8 — Turned the clock back with another dependable display and soldiered on with a cut to the eyebrow from Mark Viduka's elbow
Neville 5 — Had an absolute 'mare in the first half when he couldn't find a blue shirt for toffee but improved markedly in the second half
Arteta 9 — Once again the dynamo driving the team forward backed up with a wonderful exhibition of tackling
Cahill 8 — Looking close to being back to his best but finding scoring opportunities hard to come by in the 4-4-2 system.  But, as long as they're coming from somewhere...
Davies 8 — Whether it was his shin splints or a lack of confidence, he made a poor start to life at Everton but today he had an excellent game in the middle orchestrating things with Arteta and Cahill before leaving the game after 55 minutes
Van der Meyde 7 — Always looking to create something but often found himself with two men to beat or isolated from proceedings as Neville turned inside on his favoured right foot and looked for Cahill.  Fantastic delivery for the goal, though, and that was contribution enough as it turned out
Beattie 8 — Plenty of effort both up front and tracking back and another goal for his efforts. Might have had two more as well.
Ferguson 7 — Suffered from the referee's whistle all afternoon but worked tirelessly throughout

Kilbane 6 — Did well as a pair of fresh legs down the left flank
McFadden 6 — A touch more confidence and he might have helped the Blues double their advantage late on
Bent 7 — Had a committed last few minutes.

Lyndon Lloyd

That Little Bit Of Luck

Just for a change we spent just a fraction too long in the pub and were outside the Lower Gwladys when the Z-cars sounded. Anyways we were in are seats just in time for kick off. No changes from us as expected with Osman the unlucky one who had to give up his place on the bench this time and not Bent. Middlesbrough, fresh from stuffing Man Utd 4-1 last Sunday in front of a full house, only to go and play some Ukrainian outfit on Thursday in front of an empty one, started with a troublesome looking front two of Yakubu and Hasslebank with Mendieta in “the hole”. Ehiogu was deemed fit enough to play despite looking doubtful all week.

Middlesbrough kicked off towards the Gwlady’s Street and started brightly. Within 30 seconds I think a poor clearance by Neville playing at left back was snatched upon by the dangerous Mendieta from 18 yards who lashed wide.

We had to fight for it but we slowly got back into the game, albeit with no end product. Not a lot was happening except for a lot of fouls by both teams. Mike Riley was clearly enjoying his role as referee and blew up countless times, often for nothing decisions really when he could have let the game flow.

Nice work by Van Der Meyde won us a corner. He fluffed it straight into their first man who sliced it out for another corner. Van Der Meyde shaped to take it before spotting Neville close to him. He took a quick short one. “Oh don’t play it short” I said. He got it back and whipped in a beauty which Beattie nodded home nicely. Well I told him not to play it short!

Everton were visably lifted by this, whereas Middlesborough were evidently un-rattled and continued to play and battle. It made for a good contest albeit without many chances for either team. I’d even say that in the first half Middlesborough shaded it but Everton dug in well against, like it or not, a good team. Beattie flashed a half chance over the bar from I think an Arteta cross which he was unlucky with. Gary said “Bloody hell, what’s up with him. Has he had an argument with his missus or something”. He had a point. Beattie was noticeably fired up. Some fans near us started singing “All we are say-ing, is give Beattie a chance” to the tune of John Lennon’s classic “Give peace a chance”. Was quite funny. Everton were looking much more confident than in weeks gone by. Personified on two occasions inside are own penalty box by arguably are two most eratic players when in possession – Yobo and Hibbert. The former when he chested it back to Martyn stylishly and the latter who calmly passed it back to Martyn on the volley. Better communication and increased confidence clearly visable. A few weeks back I’d have had both of them to just smack it as far as they could. Arteta and Van Der Meyde switched wings although too no real effect

Maybe about five minutes from half time Yakubu got clear of the Everton defence from a through ball (presumably from Mendieta) but Martyn was out like a shot to narrow the angle. Yakubu panicked somewhat and Martyn claimed the ball at his feet.A great save and one reminiscent of Neville Southall himself. Just before half time a hit and hope from Mendieta on the volley from 25 yards was comfortably saved as it was straight at Martyn. That was it for the first half. An absorbing contest thus far.

There were no changes at the break and this time we attacked the Lower Gwladys. It was simply more of the same in the second half as Everton looked to stifle the midfield and take Mendieta out of the game. There were very few chances in the rest of this game with neither keeper really forced into action often. An Arteta cross was nearly put into his own net by Ehiogu but ‘boro escaped the danger in one of few chances, but both defences were mopping up competently.

A flurry of substitutions disrupted the flow of the game a little bit. Kilbane replaced Davies, McFadden replaced Van Der Meyde who left the field to a standing ovation and chants of – Andy, Andy Van, Andy, Andy Van, Andy, Andy Van, Andy Van Der Meyde. Good stuff. Bent replaced Dunc. For ‘boro it was Hasslebank off for Viduka, and I don’t know the rest but Doriva came on for someone.

The last 20 minutes was hard work. The clock ticked ever so slowly. Agonisingly so in fact as ‘boro pressed. About 12 minutes from time we should have wrapped it up. Fantastic work by Bent who beat a few men before playing a great ball into McFadden, McFadden played an even better ball first time into Beattie who somehow, inexplicably missed from about six yards, belting it against the bar and it ballooned away. That should have wrapped it up.

Mike Riley’s decisions got more and more baffling and I think bias. It became more and more agonising. Worse still we couldn’t see the clock from are seats near the back of the Lower Gwladys. Gary ducked down and caught a glimpse. “seven” he said. “What, minutes to go?” I asked. “No” said Gary. “seven seagulls are flying aloft!” Soft arse!

Martyn got hold of the ball and realising Viduka was grounded he threw it out so he could get help. Instead of giving it back when he was OK he just kicked it straight out for a throw down by are corner flag. Cheers shithouse! I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

The last five minutes were just that – desperate.
- A deflected drive by Doriva was smothered by Martyn with a few minutes to go. We got a bit of luck.
- Martyn came for a punch and completely missed. Luckily nobody followed up and we hacked it clear. We got a bit of luck.
- Frank Quederue headed goalward from a corner. Everyone collectively took a big gulp of air and the ball hit the bar and bounced over. We got a bit of luck.

Three minutes of stoppage time were played out and that was game over. Relief more than anything at the end of the game. Were now out of the bottom three. Overall, I think we shaded it, and should have wrapped it up before they hit the bar anyway.

Now let's climb that table.

Player Ratings:
Martyn – Apart from that wild punch at the end he did well. Great save from Yakubu in the first half.
Neville – After a shaky first 20 minutes or so he got into it more. Suffered with being right footed but playing at left back though. 7
Weir – Usual Weir. Solid and dependable. 7
Yobo – Solid. Stood up to Yakubu well. One tackle in the first half was particularly good. 8
Hibbert – Flawless defensively and improved distribution. Has Hibbert got over his fear of having possession of the ball? 8
Van Der Meyde – Nice assist and showed glimpses of excellence. Obviously not quite match fit. Has a very laid back posture about him. Was nice to see Cahill and Kilbane shake his hand as he left the pitch also. Particularly so Kilbane as he has, after all, taken his place in the team 7
Cahill – Anonymous at times but then would pop in with a great tackle. Appeared to be concentrating a lot on defending which was just as well given the quality of Mendieta and the sturdiness of Boatang. 7
Davies – Plenty of hustle and bustle but nothing spectacular. Was subbed after about 55 minutes. 6
Arteta – Started quietly but became a big influence on the game as it went on. Not afraid to put a tackle in either. 7
Ferguson – Showed some great use of the ball in the first half. Did well second too until he tired and was subbed. Probably did enough to stay in the team for West Brom, particularly as we have two weeks now until then. 7
Beattie – My man of the match. Was pumped up and put himself about to good effect. Chased back well at the end too. Yeah, he missed a sitter but did score the all important goal. Just don’t mention the free kick. Now do it more often James! 8

Subs:
Kilbane (for Davies): Was probably bought on to fulfil he defensive duties as much as for his attacking play and he did that well with some good timely headers out and some good blocks in the box. Not bad going forward either. Did his chances no harm at all. 7
McFadden (for Van Der Meyde): 10 out of 10 for perseverance. Fine it didn’t always work, actually hardly at all but at least went out and di whatg Moyes will have asked him to do – take players on. 6
Bent (for Ferguson): Couldn’t really have done any more than he did. Looked lively, plenty of running and got stuck in. Like Kilbane, done his chances no harm whatsoever. Hey, I quite like this competition for places lark. 8

Paul Traill

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