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Tough test of the new system

Everton 2 - 1 Real Betis

A week before it all starts in earnest for Everton, Roberto Martinez takes charge of his first game in front of the home fans. Real Betis round off their tour of England by providing yet more Continental opposition for the Blues' new boss as he makes final preparations for the new season.

Everton kicked off with a very Moyes-like 4-5-1 line-up but ominously missing Fellaini, with Barkley starting in his stead. Betis put the pressure on the Blues from the off, playing them back into their own half for the early exchanges, Barkley slid in a little too strongly on the Betis captain. Mirallas was the first to break forward chasing a great pass from Pienaar but his cross was straight at a defender. Pienaar than suffered a clash of heads for the second lengthy stoppage in the first 10 mins.

Cedrick was causing a lot of problems down the Everton right, and the defence looked poor, with far too many passes straight to Betis players. Gibson then knocked Cedrick down with the ball hitting him in the back of the head! Barkley played a dreadful ball again straight to an opposition player as the Blues looked seriously jet-lagged.

The Blues finally put a half-decent move together, winning a corner that came to nought. Periods of play showed how tough passing it out from the back was going to be for these players when pressed on the ball, many passes in their own half ending when Osman needlessly played it out on the left.

But the man-for-man marking from Betis was like a stranglehold on anything Everton tried to do, with attempts to play forward consistently thwarted and possession lost, providing a good test for the defence who were repeatedly forced to mop up and restart the slow crossfield passing to build from the back.

A long ball from Jagielka finally caused problems for Betis that led to the first goal, Mirallas released down the right, and crossing rather luckily between two defenders for the ball to reach Jelavic who did really well to evade his marker and slot home from three yards.

At the other end, a more determined threat from Betis forced a sold close-range save at the near post from Howard, the match finally coming to life a little, Baines needing to pull off a tremendous interception as Molina readied to strike. But Betis continued to waltz in and get rather clean chances that Howard saved well on more than one occasion.

In a friendly, it was a pity to see Mirallas being pulled back by his shirt and then lashing out in retaliation as Pienaar galloped ahead. Yellow card... could have easily been a red. Gibson, who had picked up a knock, came off before the break, Heitinga taking his place.

Jelavic reacted very poorly when a player shoved him in the back off a throw-in, and would definitely have seen red in a real game. Barkley played a lovely ball forward that released Mirallas who should have crossed to Jelavic but won a corner instead, and played shot, Mirallas then crossed deep, with Anderson in the Betis goal misjudging it in the air, and fumbling it into his own net. 2-0.

Everton almost broke through again when Jelavic classically got two touches instead of one, and that second touch was awful, almost hitting the corner flag when he should have buried it.

As Betis tired, Everton looked better, getting a lot more of the play, Jelavic winning a free-kick that Mirallas wastefully scooped well over the bar. Jelavic was then replaced by Kone.

Barkley and Mirallas made way late for cameo appearances by Naismith and Deulofeu. As Everton looked to close it out, one final Betis attack saw Pienaar catch Molina, and Howard Webb looked to blow for a penalty but Rodriguez finished cooly past Howard, much to his annoyance, with almost the last kick of the game.

Goals: Jelavic (35'), Mirallas (57'); Rodriguez (90')
Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman; Mirallas Y:32' (86' Deulofeu), Gibson (43' Heitinga), Osman, Barkley (86' Naismith), Pienaar; Jelavic (79' Kone).
Subs not Used: Joel, Oviedo, Stones, Anichebe.
Real Betis: Andersen; Chica, Paulao (46' Figeroua), Matilla (72' Xavi), Verdu (76' B Rodriguez); Juanfran (72' Vadillo), Perquis, Molina, Igiebor,; Cedric (79' Chuli), Nacho.
Referee: Howard Webb
Attendance:

Quotes or other material sourced from ToffeeWeb Match Reports

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