Season › 2011-12 › News

Relaxed goalfest great for confidence

Everton 4 - 0 Sunderland

David Moyes made a number of team changes, as expected, but the new side dominated possession for the first 10 mins without really coming close.

James McFadden was given his first start since returning, and started out brightly on the right, with Pienaar behind Stracqualursi but they soon swapped places, with Magaye Gueye playing on the left.

Cattermole fouled Pienaar very aggressively and deservedly got the first yellow card but without Baines, Osman's strike got through the wall but was eventually cleared before Fellaini could have a crack. McFadden was well involved and keen but his touch and judgement were at best rusty.

The patient build-up finally gave Everton a scoring chance after good work down the middle by Pienaar and Stracq, but Gueye chose to pull it back when he could have taken a shot, and Pienaar was taken by surprise. Fellaini then lashed one over from a wider position.

A good Sunderland cross picked out Sessegnon but his header flashed thankfully wide. McFadden was a little slow in taking a shot but it was on target and forced a save from Mignolet.

Everton's first corner came after a firm but poorly directed cross by Neville and Gueye's corner was equally poor, too high and deep, swinging out of play. It led to only the second decent Sunderland attack before the break when McClean came too close for comfort.

Everton won a quick corner after the break but the corner was overhit by McFadden. Neville then got past Bardsley but his deliberative cross that picked out Stracqualursi was just far too weak and loopy. Another corner, better this time, but Jagielka got too much underneath what needed to be a glancing header.

But third time's a charm, McFadden's corner eventually coming out to Osman via a deft Pienaar header, Mignolet parrying the drive but only out to Magaye who struck it superbly, an excellent well-taken first goal for the Frenchman.

Everton sat back after the goal, and Sunderland came into it, as McFadden tired and was replaced by the returning Royston Drenthe.

A great break saw Everton pass the ball forward nicely but when shooting opportunities appeared, they overplayed the passing game and Jagielka's shot did not come off. Gueye got a good ball in to Stracqualursi's feet but he clipped it over. His next attempt was high and wide when he should perhaps have taken another touch after turning and making space for himself.

The Blues got caught out a little and it needed some deperaate defending from Heitinga, but that seemed to sting some more determination into the Everton stand-ins, with Gueye crossing along the ground to Drnethe, wjho then played in Pienaar and teh Soyuth African took a moment to place a superb curling shot beyond Mignolet, Great goal.

Osman then duplicated the Pienaar strike after bringing down a high ball from Gueye and controlling it superbly then clipping it over Mignolet and ion off the far post for an excellent third goal that really had the home crowd cheering. Anichebe then replace Fellaini.

And it didn't take long for him to get on the scoresheet, at first fluffing a great cut-back Pienaar conjured out of nothing, but turning on his own airball and volleying it in off a Colback to complete a brilliant 5-minute second-half 3-goal blitz that sets things up very nicely for Saturday's massive Wembley occasion.

A great relaxed display with some of the less favoured first-team squad playing some excellent football... and scoring goals that have been at a premium this season. Hmmm... so much for not playing your best players!!!

Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Heitinga, Neville (83' Coleman); Gueye, Fellaini (77' Anichebe), Osman, Pienaar; McFadden (63' Drenthe); Stracqualursi.
Subs: Mucha, Gibson, Distin,, Duffy.

Michael Kenrick

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

• Match Report
• Post-match discussion

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