COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Man City (H)

Blues kick sand in Arab faces

Penultimate home game of the season... at half time, you would be hard pressed to hear a good word about anything to do with Everton; yet, come the full time whistle, it was all ?Happy Days? as we celebrated amongst ourselves and berrated anything and everything to do with Arab gold and Joleon Lescott.

How nice it is to do the double yet again over the Fur Coats but No Knickers brigade of the EPL. Yet, by half-time, we could have been 4-0 down rather than just the one ? such had been our lack-lustre approach. City, in David Silva, had a player that would grace any team and he even drew applause from the Goodison faithful for one sublime piece of control when he brought the ball under instant control that was dropping from a height that usually attracts icicles and a stinging shot that whistled narrowly wide.

The Blues did have the first chance though when Baines and Osman did a training ground routine from a free kick. Unfortunately, Osman lifted it very high and wide. Silva was now causing all sorts of problems as City took control of the half and he found Vieira with a controlled lay-off from a Milner cross but the ex-Gunner missed a sitter and volleyed over. Then Milner got in the area again and elected to pass rather than shoot which allowed us to get back and scramble clear.

We did manage to force three corners on the trot but each one was thwarted by the big City defence. Big Vic burst into life by barging Lescott and bringing cheers from the faithful but we needed a little more craft than that. We attacked when we could but mainly to chase hoof-balls from either Jags or Howard whilst keeping a high line.

This high line was to be our downfall on the 30-min mark when City broke quickly and that man Silva raced forward and seemed to get a lucky rebound off the exposed Distin and played in Toure Ya-Ya who powered toward goal and clipped the ball over and past Howard to put us one-nil down. It wasn?t really unexpected but still disappointing as all we had to cheer was the occasional Anichebe tousle with Lescott rather than a shot on goal.

We almost had one on target when a Neville cross was met by Rodwell who got everything wrong and missed with his header. Dzeko brought a save from Howard before the break; considering how much City paid for the striker, he was less than inspiring.

Half-time came and the chat was of how poor we were and what a poor team the manager had picked to start. Ever optimistic, I informed all those gathered that we always beat the Sheiks 2-1... tongue in cheek but I wish I could have got a bet on it!

Second half and the manager had a rethink after what he had witnessed first half. Just one change but a positive one, with Hibbert leaving and Beckford arriving. Neville went to right back and Heitinga took on the holding role by himself leaving Arteta, Rodwell and Osman in midfield and Vic and Becks up top. A formation that looked 4-1-3-2. As far as both flanks were concerned it was whoever could get there. Perm any two from five plus Baines and Neville.

From the off, we looked better and certainly more up for it. City were still about though and Dzeko had another go and again straight at Howard. Then Silva threaded Toure Ya-Ya in clear on goal, breath was held, he side-footed over the bar. Nice one, Ya-Ya.

Baines struck a fierce free kick but Beckford was in the way, he seems to get in the way a lot... the ball rolled to Rodwell who struck but a City defender got a good foot in and the chance was gone. City broke quickly and the combo of Silva and Ya-Ya saw Howard make an important save with his legs to keep the score at just the single goal. City pressed again and won a free kick that Kolarov took and found Dzeko who headed wide.

Then what I thought was a turning point took place when Rodwell went in hard on De Jong, Kompany decided to get involved and Jack squared up to him, they were both booked and from then till the end the Blues were that bit more determined with players going that extra mile to compete. Victor was getting a good response for his efforts if not his class and Beckford was putting in a better shift than of late.

Just after the hour mark, Cahill replaced Rodwell and after just a couple of minutes we were level. Arteta took a free kick, Cahill went into the box and was immediately marked by two but the ball by-passed him and found the head of Distin who planted the ball into the bottom corner with Hart sprawling behind it. Howard would have saved that. Cue wild cheers and a chorus of "Lescott, Lescott ? what?s the score?"

We were right up for it now and City had to endure the ?Bear Pit? atmosphere that demanded a winner. With the spectre of Big Dunc watching on, we just could not let him down... and so, on the 70-min mark, Neville made his way with purpose down the right flank, looked up twice then delivered a curler that saw Osman rise like a salmon across Kompany and power a header that Cahill would have died for into the far top corner, leaving England?s number 1 nowhere.

Now the Lescott taunt really rang out. Beckford had a further couple of chances that came to nothing and City had a succession of corners that we invited by going a little deep and caused a flurry of desperation but we held out. Three minutes of injury time was seen out and the sight of Neville holding off Lescott for many seconds by the corner flag was well received by the faithful.

Final whistle and ?If yer know yer ?Istory? was belted out as Coleman charged at both Kolarov and Balotelli, he was dragged back then had another go. They didn?t seem to like each other but it was just Sunday school stuff. While this was going on, Mancini and Neville were falling out and Kidd and Platt made prats of themselves. Eventually Mancini strode down the tunnel, Kidd and Platt continued to look foolish and Neville walked off, flanked by Ref and his linos in deep conversation. Probably all will be swept under the carpet.

When looking for an MotM, it would be far easier to nominate from just the second half but, taking the whole game into account, I would plump for Heitinga who, in both halves, gave a composed and assured performance in keeping things simple and ticking over as well as finding a Blue shirt with almost all his passes... mind you, I think Osman will be the main choice for a second half display and great goal... but I thought it was great to see a player pass with accuracy and no hoofing and to his own players.

Overall, I think more than the ovation Big Dunc got pre-match, and the hounding Lescott got, plus the two goals ?especially Osman?s ? most of those present got most satisfaction from doing the double over the filthy rich assembled team with players stolen from other clubs by the lure of the lucre. Yet all of us would welcome the same sort of investment in our club...

Today, I thought the manager did well by recognising our frailties first half and doing something about it second half and getting a well received win. Big Vic was much better received this game and got quite an ovation as he was subbed. Beckford ran and harried but still looks short of Premier League requirements. Cahill came on and without looking anything special seemed to galvanise others and was worth his introduction. Coleman, though not on for long, certainly looked full of fire and brimstone, got booked almost immediately, and didn?t switch off at the final whistle. '

Over 37,000 turned up today and I wondered what the response would be to the scarf protest; however, I didn?t see one but I was told three had been spotted in the family enclosure. A trip to the Black Country next and, although it?s a game with nothing on it, I hope the team are as up for it as I am as we need to improve on the home game showing against them. The tickets are expensive... so come on, players ? show us you care.

See you there.
UP THE BLUES

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