Optimism Evaporates at the DW

By Luke  O'Farrell   ::  05/02/2012 The travelling fans' anger and despair was clear, within seconds, as the Wigan PA announced Everton's half time change. Marouane Fellaini moved into an advanced role with Neville occupying central midfield. The substitution signalled the death knell for Everton's hopes of winning the match. Moving your best central midfielder, behind the striker, is a bad enough tactical ploy. Introducing a right back, for an attacking midfielder, just compounds it.

Everton showed two changes from Tuesday with Royston Drenthe and Phil Neville dropping to the bench. The impressive Steven Pienaar made his second début and a recall greeted the fit again Sylvain Distin; his performance was ring rusty. The match began in a low-key fashion, with neither side getting to grips with the sub standard pitch.

Pienaar showed his class, early on, as a lung-busting run ended in a chance for Denis Stracqualursi. The Argentine's finish was poor, although the offside flag rendered it meaningless. Wigan's first real opening came down the left. Jordi Gomez found himself in space, but Distin was first to react, to the cross, and the danger was gone. Jean Beausejour was Wigan's biggest threat, in the early exchanges, as Hibbert seemed off the pace.

Wigan had more of the ball, early on, but Everton looked threatening. This was down to the industry and class of Pienaar and Fellaini, in midfield. More good work by Pienaar saw Cahill fire over from the edge of the area. A slick one-two between Landon Donovan and Stracqualursi ended, with the forward's toe-poke easily saved by Al Habsi.

With 20 minutes gone, Wigan had their only real chance. After some unconvincing defending, from Distin, Maynor Figueroa's long ball found Franco Di Santo. The forward's scuffed effort allowed Howard to save to with ease. Gomez fired a free kick over and Pienaar did likewise, at the other end, when the ball fell to him, in the Wigan area.

Heitinga had an awkward attempt from a corner, as his connection lacked the necessary power. Leighton Baines was quiet, offensively, but almost created the opener. Darron Gibson met the full back's cross and blazed over with the ball taking a bobble, as he struck it. That was the last opening of the first half and the home side appeared there for the taking, if Everton could raise their game in the second period.

The second half began, and the fans' optimism seeped away, as Neville came on for Cahill. Pienaar and Donovan, the two attacking players capable of creating a chance, combined well but there was no end product. A chance fell to Fellaini, in his new advanced position, however a poor touch meant the chance as gone.

Gibson tried his luck from distance, as the clock approached the hour mark. Nikica Jelavic made his Everton début, with 30 minutes left, replacing the tireless Stracqualursi. The Croatian had some useful touches and a clever dummy nearly presented Fellaini with a chance. The Everton fans will hope to see more of him against Chelsea, next week.

Wigan took the lead, in bizarre fashion, with 15 minutes remaining. The impressive Beausejour's driven cross took a deflection off Neville. Tim Howard let the ball bounce, as he came to collect it, the ball hit a divot and spun the opposite way. The goal left Howard embarrassed and Everton trailing.

Victor Moses ought to have put the game beyond doubt; his selfish decision to shoot, and not pass, saw the opportunity go begging. Victor Anichebe came on for Tony Hibbert, as Moyes used his final change. Anichebe joined Jelavic up front with Fellaini back in his favoured midfield role. Unsurprisingly, Everton began to look the better team again.

Anichebe lived up to his super sub tag with the Everton equaliser; late cameos seem the best use for the Nigerian. Baines returned his own cleared corner with interest and Anichebe guided a fine header into the far corner. Neither side looked likely to score another, despite their best efforts. The referee brought a promising Everton move to an abrupt halt with a strange decision to penalise Jelavic. Injury time saw a Wigan scramble in the Everton area, after Howard flapped at a corner. The danger was gone, after Crusat handled it.

The game will go down as a missed opportunity with Everton unable to build on Tuesday's win over City. Pienaar's second Everton début and the DW's choice of music were the only two bright points, from yesterday. Donovan is sometimes anonymous and his refusal to shoot is becoming frustrating.

Fellaini played well, despite moving position throughout. John Heitinga and Baines continued their recent good runs of form. Gibson used the ball well but, you get the impression, he has more to offer. Hibbert did not look fit although he improved as the game wore on. Cahill and his replacement, Neville, were both poor. As their Everton careers wind down, so should their game time.

Everton's first change saw David Moyes's negative core rear its ugly head, once again. The change gives the impression that Everton are happy with a point. For the fans, at least, this simply is not the case. Four points from these two games is not disastrous but, when three of those points come against Manchester City, a point at Wigan simply is not good enough.

Ratings: Howard 4 Hibbert 6 Heitinga 7 Distin 6 Baines 7 Donovan 6 Gibson 5 Fellaini 7 Pienaar 8* Cahill 5 Stracqualursi 5

Subs: Neville 5, Jelavic 6, Anichebe 6

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