A review and a Derby Preview
Last updated : 22 December 2002 By Sean Graham
Losing to Chelsea once is bad enough but twice in a week is just unbearable especially when you've played them ff the park in the second half of the match!
Giving a team like Chelsea two goal start is not a good idea especially hen you have seen how they can play against you only a few days previously. Everton did spark into life when they went two goals down but this time they couldn't find the killer finishing touch to bring themselves level and they deserved at least a draw out of this match but it was not to be.
Decisions have cost Everton at least a draw in this match and the sending off of David Unsworth was nothing short of disgraceful! Both players should have ended up with a yellow card each and that would have been enough but the shame of it all was the final goal scored by Chelsea by Gronkaer that left me sick to the stomach and Everton's week of Blues continued...
Sunday was a good day for one Everton man in particular....young Wayne Rooney. Wayne was awarded the BBC Young Personality of the year award and on Saturday his reward for this was a place in the starting line-up against Blackburn at Goodison Park today surely his fairytale story could not continue today or could it?
Well Blackburn went a goal up within 6 minutes when Andy Cole headed home a David Thompson free-kick and the faithful thought here we go again! But not this time Everton fought back and levelled in the 12th minute Campbell who was playing his 100th appearance picked out young Rooney who hit the post and Lee Carsley knocked the ball home to make it 1-1.This was now an open and entertaining match an after last week Everton were in no mood to lose at home again! Cole came close for Blackburn and both Carsley and Gravesen had shots that went wide.
Then on 25 minutes cometh the hour cometh boy wonder Wayne Rooney! Rooney latched on to a clearance from Wright headed the ball past two Blackburn defenders and hitting a beauty of a shot past Friedal for what was to be the Everton winner!
This was more like the Everton that we are used to and hopefully this will be what we get next Sunday when we play Liverpool!
The match did not pass without incident Blackburn had Lucas Neill sent off and Hibbert, Gillespie and Yorke all ended up in the referee's book. Alan Stubbs was superb from start to finish and he deserved a goal near the end but we will take the win and Stubbsy can get a goal next week. It is good to see Stubbsy, Wayne and Richard playing so well because we all know what we are up against next weekend...it's the big one the Merseyside Derby and the last one of 2002. Anyone who had looked at the league table on Monday morning would have had a huge grin on their face, that is if you are a fan of the people's club! Yes Everton are above Liverpool in the table and this a full week before the derby match, lets hope that that is still the same after Sunday's clash!
Everyone knows that Liverpool are not playing at their full potential but only a fool would write them off for Sunday and the League race in general. Their form has not been great of late but you do feel that they are ready to give someone a real going over soon, lets hope that it is not us on Sunday!
The only reason I say this is that we will be without Yobo, Unsworth and possibly Tony Hibbert. Tony has a big hole in his thigh and has needed stitches so he is a major doubt!
The replacements to play at the back could be either Steve Watson or Alessandro Pistone to play alongside Alan Stubbs and David Weir at the back, but the boss is saying nothing.
These games stir up the memories of great matches of yesteryear and no doubt the pubs in Liverpool and around the world will have many a fan recalling their favourite match or favourite player from these matches. I can still remember Graeme Sharp scoring a stunning winner at Anfield and Andy King doing the same in the FA Cup the only question on Enrique's and everyone else's lips on Sunday is who will be our Hero?
Will Wayne give the Reds the Blues or will Radzinski or Campbell be giving them the run around? Who can tell, that is the beauty of Derby matches no matter what the formbook says you can throw it out of the window because it's nearly always wrong!
The first meeting between these clubs in 1884 at Goodison and a crowd of 44,000 people watched as Everton ran out 3-0 winners, it would be nice to think that would be the same score line on Sunday but somehow I don't think it will be! Everton may be in the mood for some revenge for a couple of results that went against them, losing both matches 3-1 and 3-2,to a very late Gary McAllister free kick, that still hurts!
You think back to matches from years ago and one man used to be a pest and indeed a thorn in our side, that man was Ian Rush. Ian scored 25 goals v Everton indeed scoring four in one match v the Blues, what a dark day that was. Both Everton and Liverpool have won 5-0 in this fixture in 1982 and 1909. 10 players have played in a Merseyside Derby for both clubs and they are as follows, Barmby, Hutchison, Ablett, Beardsley, Burrows, Johnson D, Johnson T, Forshaw, Lacey, Cadwick.
And two players have scored in the derby for both clubs-Peter Beardsey and David Johnson. Lets hope for a great match and hope that it is remembered for all the skill on show and a win for the Blue half of Liverpool. Sorry Nick and Mark!
Now the other news before I sign off.
Baby News-Richard and Kelly Wright have a new baby little baby Bo and his mother are doing well and hopefully there will be more celebrations after this weekend! Congratulations the Wright family.
Niclas Alexandersson has reported no problems following a reserve outing on Tuesday-good let’s hope that Nic is back to full fitness for the New Year.
Everton are said to be interested in Egyptian Ibrahim Said. Anyone who was up for the Scottish tour will remember him, I thought that he did well enough for the short time he was with the club and wished him all the best for the future. He seemed happy enough then and he signed my old Everton top. I was surprised when the club did not offer him a deal then but all the money was used for other deals. At least now hopefully Ibrahim can join the People's Club.
Everton have taken 25 year old Senegal defensive midfielder Pape Sarr on a two day trial. Sarr is out of favour with Lens and is looking to revive his career so he is on his way to Goodison.
Li Weifeng has laughed at suggestions he is to quit the Goodison Park club. He has been granted a three week break to recover from a broken nose injury. He says once he has cleared up this injury he will return to Merseyside to proove that David Moyes was right to have faith in his ability.
Ex Everton star David Ginola is looking to move back home by signing for title chasing Nice.
After only a few games on loan to Ipswich Paul Gerrard has dislocated his kneecap and will now return to Goodison for treatment-best wishes go to Paul hope everything goes well for you.
Before I sign off I would like to wish all the players, staff and support at Everton Football Club all the very best for the festive period and thanks for all their efforts this season all your hard work will have its reward some day!
Have a great Christmas and New Year lads you deserve it! Also Thanks to my two mates Andrew and Tommy for all the Everton stuff this year very much appreciated, see you on Saturday!
My Editor at Everton -Mad Austin -Thanks for letting me do something I really love! I appreciate it mate!! (No Problem - Ed.) Have a great Christmas and New Year I think you deserve it!
And last but by no means least my family - Tracey, Catherine, Mum, Dad, Tommy, Mick and the Outlaws hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year-Wilma get low alcohol beer in I am working right through the festive period!
And all Evertonians and the Lads from Work have a great Christmas and enjoy your Christmas nights out and be sensible-Don't Drink And Drive!
Have a great time wherever you Celebrate Christmas and New Year! Best Of Luck Everton Football Club for Sunday and for 2003!!!
