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Venue: The Rioch Arena, Coventry
Friendly
 Sunday 2 August 2009; 12:45pm
Coventry City
2-2
 EVERTON
Doyle (35'), Gunnarsson  (89')
Half Time: 1-0
  Cahill (16'), Baxter (85)
Attendance: 8,344
Friendly 5
Referee: Peter Walton

Match Summary

Marcus Hall testimonial

Tim Cahill and Jose Baxter twice give Everton the lead but Michael Doyle's late header salvaged a draw for Coventry

The Toffees were without defender Joleon Lescott – subject of two recent bids from Manchester City – because of a hip injury and led twice before the match finished level. Australia midfielder Tim Cahill gave David Moyes' side the lead in the 15th minute when Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood failed to hold his initial shot. Leon Osman went close to a second before Clinton Morrison crossed for Michael Doyle to slide in an equaliser.

Everton regained the lead with just five minutes remaining when teenage substitute Jose Baxter fired into the bottom corner through a crowd of players. But Aron Gunnarsson salvaged a draw for Chris Coleman's side and ensured Sky Blues veteran Marcus Hall's testimonial ended on a positive note when he headed a Doyle cross in at the near post in the 89th minute..

Joleon Lescott missed the game due to a hip injury,  so  Jack Rodwell a rare chance at centre half after playing the rest of his Everton career in midfield.

Everton had much the better of the first half and went 1-0 up when Cahill scored from just inside the area after great work from Jo to set him up.

Moments later Leon Best managed to miss an open goal from a yard out after Baines was beaten at the back post from a cross, Rodwell clearing off the line after a tame effort across goal.

Michael Doyle turned in a Morrison cross to make it 1-1 ten minutes before half time, shambolic defending from Everton, Rodwell in particular, gifting Coventry a way back into the game, after it had been all Everton for large periods.

At half-time, Tim Howard came on for Carlo Nash.

The majority of the second half was a poor affair, with Coventry having a lot of the ball but little ability to carve open an opening to take the lead. Everton having occasional opportunities on the break with a decent shot from Fellaini saved by the Coventry keeper, and Vaughan almost finding a way around the keeper to prod home but slid it wide.

20 minutes from the end the subs really got going, Jose Baxter and James Wallace coming on for Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert.

With 10 minutes left Kieran Agard got a run out coming on for James Vaughan. Everton finished with a late flurry however, and managed to put themselves back into a 2-1 lead. Jose Baxter completing a good one two with Fellaini, before burying it past the keeper giving him no chance. Great team goal.

Phil Neville almost scored an own goal moments later, volleying a back pass at Howard with some pace but the American managed to clear.

Gunnarsson managed to sneak the ball past Howard with a weak header into the ground, a deflection off an Everton player meant Howard couldn't reach it, Coventry equalising about 2 minutes before full time.

 

Michael Kenrick

Match Report

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COVENTRY (4-4-2)
  Westwood
  Wright
  Hall (50' Gilbert)
  Clingan
  Cain (69' Eastwood)
  Doyle
  Best
  Morrison
  Osbourne (81' Clarke)
  Gunnarsson
  Turner
  Subs not used
  Konstantopoulos
  Grandison
  Walker

EVERTON (4-5-1)
  Nash (46' Howard)
  Hibbert (72' Baxter)
  Yobo
  Neville
  Baines
  Rodwell
  Cahill (72' Wallace)
  Osman
  Fellaini
  Vaughan (78' Agard)
  Jo (89' Jutkiewicz)
  Subs not used
  Duffy
  Forshaw
  Unavailable
  Anichebe (injured)
  Arteta (injured)
  Yakubu (injured)
   

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