the years and, for one reason or another, the games are usually very
forgettable encounters.
The only meeting that really sticks in my mind is the 5-2 mauling we
gave them on the final day of the 1992-93 season.
Since then they've beaten us three times in 16 games and completely
embarrassed us in a further three games as they stuck four past us in
2004/05, stuck five past us in 2000/01 and beat us 1-5 on the last day
of the 2003/04 season.
That last game appears to be the day when Wayne Rooney had his epiphany
and decided that life would be better in the red half of Manchester, as
they never get gubbed by City do they?!
But for some reason, unless I really think hard about it, I can't really
remember anything that happened in any of these games.
I don't know if it's a product of the fact that both teams have suffered
at the hands of their more successful neighbours but there doesn't
really seem to be any needle in the game.
The inter-city rivalry never seems to surface in the same way that it
does against Man United, which I'm sure many city fans will find quite
ironic given United's stereotypical non-mancunian fan base.
But we almost always get some sort of a result against them at Goodison
and the last time they beat us here was in the Premiership's inaugural
season when two goals from Mike Sheron and one from David White were
enough to secure a 3-1 win.
Our goal in that game came virtue of a David Brightwell own goal…and
City were already three up by that stage.
Last season we beat them thanks to a mad goal at the Park End from David
Weir.
I can't remember the exact details but the City defence couldn't deal
with an eighth minute corner and the ball ended up hitting David Weir's
knees as he stood in the six-yard box and rolled past David James.
A goal fit to win any game!
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Our Premiership record against City reads: Played 18; Won 8; Drawn 3;
Lost 7; Scored 23; Conceded 30.
We've also had 20 players booked and two sent over the course of those
18 games and City have had 26 booked and five sent off.
Our record at home reads: Played 9; Won 5; Drawn 3; Lost 1; Scored 13;
Conceded 8.
So, unless the Blues bugger this one up, it's got to be a home win!
But, after our sprint out of the blocks, our form has spluttered a bit
in the last couple of weeks as we have only managed draws with
unconvincing Wigan and Newcastle sides.
But, the point against Wigan was one more than we got last season and
the very fact that we were disappointed not to take all three points at
St James's shows how far we have come over the summer.
City go into this one on the back of some indifferent form as they have
won two, drawn one and lost three of their games so far.
They got, given Pompey's start to the season, what appears to be a well
earned point against Portsmouth and an impressive win against Arsenal
after they were beaten 0-3 at Stamford Bridge on the opening weekend.
But then they slid to defeat at Reading and Blackburn but, given the
chances they had, they should have come away from Ewood Park with at
least a point.
Then two goals from the lovechild of Freddy Mercury and Fernando
Morientes, Georgios Samaras, were enough to secure a 2-0 win over West
Ham in their last game.
So City have shown poor away form this season but have done enough to
show that they can click, and at least carve out chances, on their day.
But Everton should win this one although it is going to be difficult and
most likely another game to forget!
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