Mancheter City-Everton: 25th February 2008

It was something special it the other end that almost brought the game to life. Pienaar, cutting in from the left, curled a shot around City keeper Joe Hart only to see it come back of the post. It was the best chance either team had had to score. But goals weren’t long in coming.

With confidence Everton started to go forward. The ball was played to Yakubu who turned to pass it left to Cahill, then ran into the box. Cahill beat a City defender then played it back to Yakubu. The remaining City defenders stepped up in an attempt to catch Everton offside. But the timing was wrong and all they did was leave Yakubu unmarked 6 yards from goal.

Everton.

It was a hammer blow for City. They hadn’t played badly, but they hadn’t troubled Everton either. Everton had carved out two chances and scored both of them. City would have to do something quickly if they were going to get anything from this game.

The second half started with City getting lots of the ball but they were unable to break down a resolute Everton defense. A telling moment for Everton came 10 minutes into the half when Carsley got himself booked for a tackle on Fernandes Gelson. He will now miss Everton next game.

There wasn’t much happening in the game. Everton were happy to let City have most of the possession but the home team couldn’t find a way through to goal. With 20 minutes left City won a free kick after a foul by Cahill. Martin Petrov crossed the ball into the Everton box and City skipper Dunn was first to it. But from six yards out he could only head it over the bar. That had been City’s best chance all half.

With less than 15 minutes left City took off Darius Vassell and replaced him with Nery Castillo. The Mexican forward looked lively as soon as he got on to the pitch. Just after this substitution came a bizarre refereeing decision.

Everton had a throw in deep in the Man City half. The ball was thrown into the City area where, in a moment of madness, Richards jumped and palmed the ball away. Referee Rob Styles immediately blew for what everyone, Man City supporters included, thought was a penalty.

No, ignoring the claims of the Everton players, he gave a free kick on the edge of the box. Fair enough, because from his position on the field it may have looked like the handball had happened outside the area. But what got me was it was a deliberate handball in a goal scoring position which meant Richards should have been shown a red card. The referee never even spoke with him. The free kick came to nothing.

As the game entered the last 10 minutes Castillo showed why he should have been on from the start. Two shots in quick succession were blocked by Phil Jagielka. Both of them looked to be on target.

The game rose in the excitement factor. As City pushed forward looking for a goal they left gaps at the back. Andrew Johnson, who had come on for Manuel Fernandes, should have done better when he collected a pass from Lescott and then saw his shot saved well by Hart.

At the other end Castillo powered in a shot from the edge of the area only to see it saved by Tim Howard. It was the first time all game that Howard had to make a real save.

As the game entered injury time City’s frustration bubbled over. After being dispossessed Petrov kicked out petulantly at Leon Osman. He hardly made contact and Osman made nothing of it. But Styles had seen it and sent him off, even though Everton captain Neville pleaded with the referee not to. Petrov will now miss City’s next 3 games.

It was a sourer way to end the game. Everton had done well. They had come to Eastlands, took their chances and defended stoically. As for Man City, they had offered nothing. After they had gone behind they had lost all sense of position. Any game plan that they may have had simply disappeared. They couldn’t find a way past Everton and almost gave up trying.

Everton now face another test against Portsmouth at Goodison Park. Another 6 pointer, as the south coast team is on the edge of the European Qualification positions. After that it back to the UEFA Cup with Everton’s most difficult opponents so far, an away trip to the Italian giants Fiorentina.

This is where the season really starts to get interesting, stay tuned.

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