Everton travel to the south coast for a friendly to fill in a blank weekend that is a painful reminder of the embarrassing exit from the FA Cup at home to Blackburn just two weeks ago. While they press on in the 4th Round, this free weekend gives the Blues some match practice and an early opportunity to take a look at the only addition to the squad so far during a typically frustrating January transfer window.
Brazilian Anderson da Silva (wearing simply "Anderson" on his shirt) started in midfield, with Tony Hibbert and Alessandro Pistone returning as full back after a long absence through injury. Richard Wright made a rare appearance in goal to face the League One opponents.
The match finally got under way at 2:15 pm and Beattie was promptly fouled by Gowling. the first half-decent attack came with a cross from Darren Anderton with Wright tipping over for a corner, and Lawson's strike went behind off Hibbert for another corner. Everton's attacks were slow to develop, Anderson having a pop from distance after 20 mins (he'll soon be told not to do that!) but it was blocked.
The game livened up a bit after the half hour with a couple of shots at either end, Bournemouth winning more corners. Everton won their first corner on 43 minutes and Anichebe nearly got on the end of it. Cahill then got a strike on goal but it was comfortably saved by Stewart in The Cherries' goal.
Haytor than had a run in on the Everton goal but Wright had it covered. Everton won another corner, with Beattie active despite persistent booing from he local yokels, due to his Southampton pedigree. Everton achieved their first objective, surviving goalless at half-time.
A few changes at half-time included James Vaughan coming on in place of Victor Anichebe.
Hayter did well out wide and got the ball past Stubbs and the in-running Fletcher fired home with some ease past Richard Wright to put the League One outfit ahead. The goal prompted more changes from David Moyes, including a rare showing for Bjarni Vidarsson,
Osman and Vidarsson combined well but the shot from Beattie was poor. Everton huffed and puffed and it was Bjarni Vidarsson was in there to force the ball in off a defender from a decent Hibbert cross. Scrapy, but just what the Blues needed.
Michael Kenrick
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