Everton-Manchester City: Goodison Park, 12th January 2008

You could argue that this match was the biggest of the weekend, with both Everton and City looking at that allusive fourth spot.

City have been the surprise package of the season so far. When Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as manager a lot of people thought it would take him a while to make an impression, how wrong can you be?

City’s supporters have come accustomed to finishing at the lower end of the table in resent years. And even the most staunch Sky Blue would say finishing mid table was a success.

That was before Eriksson arrived. He has been given a lot of money to spend and has produced a squad capable of pushing for European qualification.

It will be a huge surprise if City aren’t in next season’s UEFA Cup.

Everton have done things the long way round.

For 5 years David Moyes has been building his team. Money limitations have only allowed him to bring in one or two big names each season.

But they are defiantly heading in the same direction as City and qualification for Europe two seasons in a row will be massive sign of progress.

An injury to Andy Johnson on Friday saw Victor Anichebe start up front as the lone striker as Everton reverted back to their trusted 4-5-1 formation.

This game also saw the return of Arteta. The creative midfielder had been suspended for 3 games after being sent off against Arsenal. Although he has not had the best of seasons, Everton have missed his inspirational play.

City brought two former Everton players with them, Michael Ball and Richard Dunne. They have had mixed fortunes since leaving the club.

Ball was seen as the next England left back when he transferred to Rangers. But injury put pay to that.

With his opportunities at Rangers limited, he moved to Holland to play for PSV Eindhoven. But still couldn’t make much of an impassion.

He got a chance to return to the Premiership with City and hasn’t looked back. Some reports have mentioned him showing glimpses of the form that had England interested.

Dunne was going to be a big player for Everton, both in height and presence. But off the field arguments with the then manager, Walter Smith, saw him sold to City.

After a shaky start at his new club, Dunne got his head down and worked hard. His reward for straightening him self out? He is now the City captain in one of the clubs best seasons.

Both players got a warm welcome from the home crowd at the start of the game, but there were no questions of mixed loyalties as both players fouled Ainchebe in the first 10 minutes.

Everyone knew this would be a hard game, but it was Everton who had the better of it. Returning to the 4-5-1 formation gave Everton more stability and, more importantly, allowed Cahill to get move involved in attacking moves.

This was no more evident then when Cahill had a glorious chance to put Everton in the lead. A cross by Arteta found Cahill on the edge of the box. He saw his shot saved by Hart in the City goal. But the young keeper could only push the ball back to Cahill who, with the whole goal at his mercy, fired his shot over the bar.

Still City were unable to create much and ten minutes after Cahill’s miss Everton won them selves a corner.

The ball in by Arteta was cleared back to him. From the closer position he fired in a low cross. With the penalty area still packed from the corner, the ball could have gone anywhere, but it was Lescott who managed to deflect the ball towards goal.

1-0  Everton.

The goal was no more then Everton deserved, but now City would have to be more adventures.

Shortly after the goal Onuoha had City’s first real chance when he headed a Petrov corner wide. Although City were starting to come forward Everton were still controlling the game. The feeling was as City committed more men to the attack Everton would be able to exploit holes left at the back.

The game wound down to half time and there was an air of confidence in the crowd. After 2 consecutive defeats Everton should have been on their way to a comfortable victory, if only that had been the case.

As City were chasing the game, everyone knew they would come out fighting for the second half. What we didn’t expect was that Everton would sit back and let them.

Petrov and Corluka were constant thorns in the side. But with all the possession City were getting they couldn’t break down the deep sitting Everton defence.

With half an hour left Moyes removed the unproductive McFadden for Vaughan. Now with two young strikers Everton were starting to find gaps in the City back line. Both Vaughan and Anichebe ran them selves into the ground, but they still couldn’t find a chance to score that game killing goal.

As the Everton forwards started to tire City came on again but couldn’t find away through.

With the match entering injury time Petrov finally got the chance City had been looking for. 12 yards out he let fly with a low, powerful shot. But it was too close to Howard who gratefully smothered the ball.

An equalizer would have been no more then City deserved, and at the death substitute Gelson had a final chance with a header that he put straight at Howard.

And that was the last action of the game.

City will feel that they should have come away from Goodison with something, and their second half play deserved it. But a little credit to Everton. Though they sat back after scoring, they didn’t let City have much in the way of chances.

This was the first time this season Everton had beaten a team in the top half of the table. It was all the more important that it was a win against a team in a similar position.

This result now leaves 4 teams on 39 points. Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa and Manchester City look like they will be battling it out for European qualification. Though expect a late challenge from Tottenham. As the teams above them fall away I can see them pushing up the table near the end of the season.

Everton now travel to Wigan, and if they want to be considered a top team then 3 points is a must against a struggling team. After that it's the 2nd leg of the Carling Cup semifinal against Chelsea, possible our biggest  game of the season.