Lack of Creativity Hampers Toffees

By Luke O'Farrell   ::  18/03/2012 David Moyes bore the brunt of Evertonian anger in midweek, as his weakened side produced a lacklustre display with one eye seemingly fixed on today's quarterfinal. However, team selection was not to blame for today?s failure. That failure, in the most part, came about due to a lack of creativity. The absence of Steven Pienaar and Darron Gibson compounded this as Everton lacked incision and rhythm going forward.

Everton began in sluggish fashion, a familiar trend when playing teams outside the Top 6. Everton struggle when the onus is on them to seize control and dominate. Visiting teams sit back and Everton lack the threat and ability to break them down. The top sides come to Goodison Park, looking to win, and this provides Everton with more time and space. The visitors made the brighter start as James McClean headed a Seb Larsson free kick wide. Leon Osman had Everton's first effort, heading over, after good work from Marouane Fellaini and Seamus Coleman.

Everton fell behind with the visitors gaining reward for a purposeful start. Sunderland caught the home side napping with a quick free kick leading to Phil Bardsley's opener. The full back's low drive whistled through a crowd of bodies leaving Tim Howard helpless. McClean headed another chance over for the visitors, whilst Everton tried to find a way back with Osman and John Heitinga firing wide.

With one goal in his last fifty outings, it was a surprise to see Tim Cahill get Everton back on level terms. Nikica Jelavic headed goal wards and, with the ball heading wide, Cahill rose to head Everton level. Jelavic, impressing once again, fired an ambitious effort into the side netting. Cahill met a corner and Distin fired the rebound over as Everton rallied before the break. Royston Drenthe came within inches of scoring as his free kick struck the angle of post and bar. A last-ditch tackle from Heitinga prevented a Sunderland chance as the half time whistle approached.

Coleman fired wastefully wide and Cahill forced a low save with Sunderland content to sit back. Another Cahill's effort lacked power and Jelavic headed narrowly over as Everton pressed for a winner. Jack Colback's tame shot from distance represented Sunderland's total output in the second half. Mignolet saved Sunderland with a smart double save keeping out Heitinga's header and Jelavic?s follow up.

David Moyes swapped Cahill and Fellaini over, as the game wore on. The decision backfired as both players performed worse after moving into their new roles. Drenthe proved to be a threat but he has had better days. However, unlike Osman, he always looks to get involved. Osman can have moments of influence during a game, his assist v Spurs is testament to that, but he rarely takes control of a game.

Heitinga and Distin produced another accomplished display with the two centre backs looking comfortable alongside each other. Heitinga just edged out his defensive partner in the man of the match stakes with honourable mentions for Jelavic and Cahill. Baines was his tireless self but he plays better with Pienaar ahead of him.

Sunderland will be much happier with a replay with Mignolet wasting time during the first half. Everton will view today as a missed opportunity but the Toffees are now unbeaten in 16 against Sunderland. However, Martin O?Neill appears to hold the managerial edge with Moyes winning one of their 10 meetings.

The worry for Everton is that their two most creative players, Pienaar and Drenthe, are on loan. Everton's midfield is the thinnest area of the squad with just six first team midfielders and that includes Barkley and Rodwell. Do not worry: the creative player Everton are missing will be at Goodison Park in four days... Unfortunately, he will be wearing an Arsenal shirt.

Ratings:

Howard 6, Neville 6, Heitinga 8, Distin 8, Baines 7, Coleman 6, Fellaini 7, Osman 5, Drenthe 6, Cahill 7, Jelavic 7.

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