Duncan Ferguson's Return Inspires Everton, as Toffees Frustrate Manchester City

A powerful second half display saw Everton stun Manchester City at Goodison Park. The Toffees recorded their seventh win in eight games against City and four in a row since Joleon Lescott’s acrimonious move from Everton to Eastlands in 2009. 

Everton hero, Duncan Ferguson, returned to Goodison Park and was paraded around the pitch to great raptures before kickoff, visibly moving the Scotsman. How Everton could have done with Ferguson, at his peak, to spearhead their campaign this season. So often, early on in the season, it was only poor finishing that spoilt their performance. 

Manchester City began the game on top, and Roberto Mancini would have been disappointed his side were not out of sight by half time, as City spurned countless opportunities to score. Silva drove wide after some sublime skill, Vieira blazed over when it was easier to score and Milner wasted a decent opening. Despite shading possession and territory stats, Everton were all too often opened up, with Silva the architect behind most of Manchester City’s good work.

Finally, just before the half hour, Toure latched onto Silva’s pass and fired home, giving City a deserved lead. Silva beat Distin to a loose ball and fed the Ivorian, who finished powerfully. In reply, Everton managed several corners and attacking set pieces, but only a Rodwell header wide came at all close to troubling Joe Hart in Manchester City's goal.

The second half saw Manchester City again wasteful in front of goal. Dzeko shot wide and Howard thwarted Toure one-on-one. Yet Everton, with Arteta brought in off the flank, playing more central and pulling the strings, and with substitute Beckford now leading the line, began to look more dangerous. As Tim Cahill appeared from the bench, Everton clicked into gear, and on 65 minutes, Distin rose highest to head in an Arteta set piece. A memorable moment for the Frenchman against his former club and he celebrated fervently with delight etched across his face, although Joe Hart would have felt he should have done more to prevent the ball crossing the line. 

With City suddenly on the back foot, Everton sensed weakness and surged forward, spurred on by a vociferous Goodison Park. With Lescott and Kompany deploying Machester City’s back four deeper and deeper, Everton took advantage, with several long balls providing them with possession deep in Manchester City territory from the knock downs. Neville and Baines were constantly available on the overlap to cross, as Manchester City struggled to contain their transformed hosts. Seventy-two minutes in and Everton made their sudden dominance count. Leon Osman produced a stunning header that oozed class, courage and bravery. He met Neville’s cross a fraction before Kompany and deftly headed the ball into the corner, above Hart, before being clattered by the big Belgian.

City appeared visibly stunned by Everton’s riposte, and Mancini was clearly agitated on the touchline. Despite Johnson, Balotelli and Jo all hastily being thrown into the fray, they failed to mount much offence of note on Howard’s goal in the closing stages, and Everton could have been further ahead as Hart saved well at Beckford’s feet. 

If Silva and Toure had dominated the first half for City, Arteta, Osman and Anichebe all performed admirably with craft and energy in the second half for Everton. It was a typical late season performance by Everton. The Toffees are becoming experts at sprinting when the Premier League finish line in sight, but it is time for David Moyes to develop a way to keep them up with the pacemakers as next season begins.

With Duncan Ferguson watching on, almost in tribute, the game was a feisty, full-blooded affair, with several heated exchanges. It was the kind of game Ferguson excelled in. There seems to still be bad blood between these two sides, stemming from Lescott’s move. The central defender's every touch was greeted with boos and abuse, and Everton fans will revel in this streak of wins achieved since his departure from the club.

With red cards, bad tackles, off the ball fracases and touchline altercations punctuating the previous three meetings since Lescott’s transfer, today’s game was similarly lively. Several yellow cards were handed out by referee, Phil Dowd. Two to Kompany and Rodwell, who scuffled after a late tackle from Rodwell. De Jong, Heitinga and Milner all snarled their way through the game, in a combative midfield, eager to throw themselves into tackles without hesitation, and players frequently clashed off the ball. The final whistle prompted a further melee, with Neville involved in a fierce exchange with David Platt and Roberto Mancini 

As Roberto Mancini heads back to Manchester, he will be wondering what he has to do to avoid defeat to Everton. The players he used today cost Manchester City over £200 million. In contrast, Everton’s 14 players used barely cost £25 million.

What could David Moyes achieve with £200 million? Will we ever know? As Moyes stated after the match, no amount of riches can buy team spirit like Everton displayed today.