COLUMNIST PAUL TRAILL

Eight goals and a broken finger

Teeming it down with rain, I felt it easier to drive for this one. There were more cars than usual parked up where we usually park, the road leading towards Goodison Park was also a little busier than is the norm, and the pub was just chocka. The atmosphere was pretty good, you sensed this could make for a noisy Goodison Park and hopefully a nice, open game of football.

Simon met us in the pub, bringing with him a couple of optimistic Blackpool supporting friends. They informed us the away end was sold out. I was keen to see what all the fuss was about with Charlie Adam, and to see exactly how Blackpool?s tendency to ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK! Would compromise their necessity to defend.

With the team unchanged I had an inkling of a 2-0 win and so put the bet on with Saha first goal scorer. Oh how wrong I was! Blackpool featured James Beattie in attack. He was afforded a generous reception from the home crowd. Another ex-Blue Keith Southern was amongst the substitutes for the Tangerines. We won the toss and attacked the Park End in the first half.

I thought we started the match pretty well, coming pretty close in and around the penalty area, though Blackpool were also let in a few times mostly due to flat defending by Heitinga. Still, we appeared quite comfortable and it wasn?t exactly a total shock when we got our noses in front. Bilyaletdinov doing well down the left side, skipping past a few meek challenges and laying the ball across to Saha who couldn?t miss from six yards with the whole goal to aim at.

Everton were noticeably buoyant from this and continued to take the game to Blackpool though without adding the second goal. Down at the other end Blackpool earned themselves a free kick following a Sylvan Distin handball. Adam?s drive was blocked by the Everton wall, the ball deflecting behind directly towards me. I attempted to catch, only to not get my hands under the ball and badly fumble it, completely jarring my ring finger in doing so? Closer inspection at the hospital today confirms I?ve even managed to break the bloody finger?looks like I?ll now be getting a lift to work for the next week or so.

To make matters worse, Blackpool only went and scored from the corner. Adam taking poorly, Everton defending terribly, Ian Evatt stabbing goalwards, Baines clearing off the line but then Baptiste on hand to poke home. Oh for goodness sake.

Everton picked themselves up pretty quickly though, with Saha finding the net again, though this one being chalked off as the referee had already blown up for a free kick to Everton. Having now seen it since, I struggle to see why the referee didn?t just play the advantage as every player on the pitch carried on. Regardless we went in all square at the break.

Chatting to Ste at half-time, I wondered if Arsenal could perhaps go on and win 8-0 as they led 4-0 at the interval. Well I was proved wrong with that one. We all felt we could still go on and win the game here also.

We began the second half very positively and it wasn?t long into the half when Louis Saha got on the end of a low Baines cross to steer the ball home to put as back in front. It was just what we deserved at that point. Everton then created more chances to score with Rodwell just steering the ball wide with a good chance, and Bilyaletdinov also coming close, forcing Rachubka into a good save.

Things were looking good but then, as is the Everton way, we let Blackpool back in. Gutless defending by Heitinga, losing out on a 50-50 ball to DJ Campbell I believe and Blackpool were all of a sudden in. Beattie squared the ball across the box for Puncheon to slot into the empty the net. The noisy Blackpool fans went mad. Once again, after all that hard work Everton were level.

Rodwell came particularly close to scoring just after this I think, when Rachubka came out of his box unnecessarily, was robbed by young Jack, who placed a delicious chip towards goal, though somehow it was cleared off the line by a Blackpool defender.

The mood turned a little sour shortly after when ridiculous play inside his own half by Distin presented the ball to a Blackpool player. As they took it forward Campbell?s shot came back off the crossbar? only for the rebound to be headed home by Adam. Blackpool supporters went berserk. This was all just unreal.

Everton meant business though and put quite a determined shift in to get back into the game. Bilyaletdinov and Rodwell were replaced by Cahill and Beckford as Everton went for it. A Fellaini volley had already been cleared off the line again when we got ourselves a corner. Arteta whipped it in, Saha lurked at the back post to head home and complete his hat-trick?what a mad game this was turning out to be.

The atmosphere by this point was simply electric and you thought there was only going to be one winner really, though you can never rule out Ian Holloway?s team. It was Everton though who secured the points with two more excellent goals. First Beckford got himself in a good position on the shoulder of the defender. His marker let Baines ball go past him but Beckford finished beautifully to put Everton 4-3 ahead. Goodison erupted.

We weren?t finished either, Saha amazingly bagging himself a fourth goal and probably the pick of the bunch. Fellaini, dominant as ever, picking up the ball, looking forward and picking out a great pass for Saha. He ran it into the box before finishing smartly past the by now demoralized Rachubka. 5-3. What a game.

Moyes shut up shop now, withdrawing Saha to a standing ovation, and giving Jagielka a cameo in midfield. That was that. A thrilling match and with the table still just about tight enough to progress up that league it makes next Sunday's trip to the Reebok all the more important.

The light still flickers.

Player Ratings:

• Howard: Could possibly be called into question for some of the goals but wasn?t exactly helped by his defenders for any of them. 6
• Baines: Good and productive. Had a hand in a few of the goals and was always forward-thinking. 8
• Distin: All over the place at times. Maybe he needs the re-assurance of Jagielka alongside him. 5
• Heitinga: I think we?ll need to play Jagielka instead next Sunday to compete with Davies and Elmander. Certainly culpable for one of the goals. 5
• Neville: Fine defensively, and got involved going forward also. 6
• Fellaini: Quiet at times but boy was he present when needed (i.e. when we were trying to get back into the game). He really kept us moving and was very dominant in the second half. 8
• Arteta: Not great, not bad either. Still struggling for form at times but certainly getting better than he was six or seven games ago. Set-pieces much improved. 6
• Rodwell: I thought he was excellent and was very unlucky not to score, and also to be subbed. Will be interested to see if he starts next week with Cahill back. 8
• Bilyaletdinov: Offered a lot more than he has previously. Did particularly well with the first goal and was also a little unlucky to be subbed but something had to change. 7
• Coleman: Kept going, worked well but not as productive as he has been and can be. 6
• Saha: You?ve got to be man of the match if you get four goals I suppose. A constant thorn in the side. His confidence should be flying now. Hopefully he can rest well for the week and carry on where he left off at Bolton next weekend. 10
• Cahill (for Rodwell): Got involved but didn?t see a lot of the ball. Similarly to Saha, hopefully he can rest up for the week and have a big game next Sunday. 6
• Beckford (for Bilyaletdinov): Scored a cracking goal and showed plenty of movement. Will always score goals you feel. 7
• Jagielka (for Saha): Not on long, can?t judge.

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