By Alan Duffy

Wigan Athletic 1-1 Everton – Premier League – 4th February 2012

A late Victor Anichebe goal was enough to rob perpetual strugglers Wigan of a vital and rare victory. The defeat leaves the Latics bottom of the table and looking like dead certs for the drop.

The first-half was a disjointed, uninspiring affair, which wasn’t helped by the atrocious conditions. New-signing Darron ‘with an ‘O” Gibson missed the best chance of the half, with Steven Pienaar, on loan from Tottenham, impressing in midfield.

In the second period, David Moyes gave Nikica Jelavic his Everton debut in an attempt to break the deadlock but it was another sub, Phil Neville, who would open the scoring, albeit for the wrong side. Winger Jean Beausejour fired in a cross, which the former Man Utd man inadvertantly steered towards his own goal. Toffees ‘keeper Tim Howard should still have saved the deflected ball, but the spin bamboozled the usually reliable glovesman, and sailed into the net.

Robert Martinez’ side could smell victory, but then, with seven minutes on the clock, another sub, the perenially mediocre Victor Anichebe, nodded home a Leighton Baines centre, leaving Wigan to rue yet another missed opportunity to move off the bottom.

While the Toffees float around mid-table as per usual, surely the Latics are now destined for the drop?

Photos…

Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

Whereas I’m pretty sure it would have still gone in on the other side of Joe Hart’s goal, Darron Gibson’s heavily deflected winner against Man City last night saw his old club Manchester United go level on points with their rivals at the summit of the Premier League – pretty much making his goal last night the best thing he ever did for United, indeed they were chanting his name 30 miles away at Old Trafford when the news broke…

Gibbo’s goal has gone down so well with his former teammates that Rio Ferdinand has tweeted him this morning to genuinely offer the Everton midfielder a free dinner at his Rosso restaurant (the food’s lovely, though the herbs are a little strong).

How nice.

                          

You may have noticed that Everton’s win over Man City at Goodison had to be halted last night for five or so minutes when a fan made his way onto the pitch and handcuffed himself to the frame of Joe Hart’s goal, before having the cuffs taken off with boltcutters, being forcibly removed by the police and ejected from the ground entirely.

The 46-year-old man was subsequently charged with ‘going on to the grassy bit at a football match’ and bailed with conditions to appear before Liverpool Magistrates Court on February 17th.

It has since come to light that the chap’s name is John Foley, and he was protesting against budget airline Ryanair; their wage structure (hence the “Europe’s Greatest Training Robbers – RYANAIR – Lowest Wages” t-shirt) and their recruitment policy; specifically the fact that they won’t give his daughter a job – though what that has to do with Everton’s woodwork is anybody’s guess.

Clear? Nope, us neither. Good luck John, whatever it is you’re blathering on about.

[Photos: PA]

                          

By Alan Duffy

Everton 1-0 Manchester City – Premier League – 31st January 2012

Roberto Mancini’s nouveau riche Citizens just can’t seem to put any decent daylight between them and their Manchester rivals in the race for the title. Once again, City stumbled to a surprise defeat against a hard-working Everton side.

Former United midfielder Darron Gibson was the goal-hero for the Toffees, firing home on the hour-mark after a Leighton Baines corner. City did their best to respond, but sorely lacked the influence of their Ivorian midfield general, Yaya Toure.

French schemer Samir Nasri did hit the woodwork on a couple of occasions, but this definitely wasn’t one of City’s best performances.

With  new signing Nikica Jelavic paraded around Goodison at the break, and a fine win against the league-leaders under their belts, things are looking up for David Moyes’ men. As for City, the question remains; despite all their wealth, will their lack of experience in a title fight be their downfall?

Oh, and one Everton fan handcuffed himself to Joe Hart’s goal-post towards the end of the first-half, which caused a five-minute delay. No doubt, we’ll see more on this rather bizarre incident on Pies’ very soon.

Photos…

Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

Apologies for the lack of proper match report, but I’m afraid you’re going to have to make do with the brass tacks this morning.

The long and short of it is that Everton booked themselves a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup last night, coming from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Goodison courtesy of two big headers from two big chaps – Denis Stracqualursi (his first goal in English football) and Marouane Fellaini –  who got themselves on the end of a pair of excellent Landon Donovan crosses.

Photos…

Highlights…

Eve 0-1 Ful, Murphy (pen) (14′)

Eve 1-1 Ful, Stracqualursi (27′)

Eve 2-1 Ful, Fellaini (73′)

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Aston Villa 1-1 Everton – Premier League – 14th January 2012

Alex McLeish’s Villa side once again struggled in front of their home fans, drawing with Everton to make it just three wins out of 10 home league fixtures for the Villans.

Everton started with new signing Darron Gibson in midfield and loanee Landon Donovan up front, and it was the Toffees who impressed in the early stages of the game. Indeed, only for a couple of superb Shay Given stops, the visitors could have been a couple of goals up by half time.

However, it was the Villans who eventually opened the scoring, with Darren Bent netting after good work from Stephen Ireland. Not long after the goal, David Moyes subbed off Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe, replacing him with Victor Anichebe, and the switch did the trick for the Toffees on 69 minutes. Donovan was the architect of the equaliser, with his superb defence-splitting pass setting up Anichebe who slotted past Given.

McLeish threw up another MLS loanee, Robbie Keane, to try to secure all three points for the home side, but ultimately Villa once again failed to impress on home turf.

Both sides stay in mid-table, but Moyes will no doubt be the happier of the two bosses, with both Gibson and Donovan impressing for the Toffees.

Photos…

Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

Nothing more, nothing less. Just a few photos of Darron Gibson holding his new club colours aloft in front of the tiles at Finch Farm (he’s been allocated Joseph Yobo’s old No. 4 shirt) after completing his £1 million – yes, Everton have spent real, non-Monopoly money on someone! - move from Manchester United earlier today…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Despite Manchester United’s lack of depth in central midfield, Darron “with an ‘o’ ” Gibson has been shipped off to Everton, for a reported fee of just £1 million.

The Irishman’s four and a half year deal with the Toffees comes after not long after the Republic of Ireland midfielder was fined by Sir Alex Ferguson, after a Boxing Day night out with team-mates Wayne Rooney and Jonny Evans had left the players unfit for training for the following morning.

Whilst possessing a very decent (if slightly wayward) shot, Gibson never established himself in the United midfield and will, no doubt, be relishing more regular football under the guidance of David Moyes.

However, will the 24-year-old really add that much to an Everton side in need of some more invention? And from United’s point of view, is £1million a decent return on a talented player? Also, was the player himself really given enough chances to shine in Manchester? Questions, questions!

                          

By Chris Wright

Tottenham went level on points with second-placed Manchester United in the Premier League pile last night, after goals from Aaron Lennon and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (a 30-yard stonker – he doesn’t score often, but when he does… etc, etc) afforded Redknapp’s rabble a comfortable 2-0 win over Everton at the Lane – a 14th victory from 20 league outings.

The result (incidentally, this was the rescheduled opening day fixture called off after the outbreak of the London Riots last August) also took Spurs to within three points of leaders Manchester City, and ’Arry’s dander was decidedly ’up’ after the game:

“It’s not impossible for us to win the league. We have a chance. The players believe we have a good chance.

“It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. We are in there. It’s going to be hard but we are not a bad side. We have some real quality. We can play and we have a good spirit.”

Two quick questions: Firstly, does Assou-Ekotto always play in odd boots? – and secondly, does anyone really think Spurs are up to a title push this season? I’m tempted by a cheeky flutter myself.

Photos…

Highlights…

Photos: PA