Everton 0-1 Athletic Bilbao

The team that started was pretty close to the one that most will expect to kick of the season against Watford next season as all of the major summer signings were present.

Neither side started particularly brightly but it was Bilbao that made the first and, ultimately, deciding breakthrough on 16 minutes.

A hopeful ball was chipped into the penalty area and as everyone, including the Everton defence, waited for the offside flag, Aduriz ran onto the ball and had time to completely miss his first swing at the ball before he scuffed an effort past Howard.

The Bilbao forward went close again soon after but he placed a close range header wide of the post.

Then Andy Johnson nearly opened his Everton account with a delightful chip that bounced back off the bar.

He was set free by a through ball from Tim Cahill and, after completely leaving the defence for dead, he curled an effort over the ‘keeper only to see it hit the top of the crossbar.

Johnson had another chance after he ran onto a James Beattie flick-on but the ‘keeper managed to get a touch on the ball after it had been put through his legs.

He then saw another effort cleared off the line after he had flicked on a Phil Neville throw-in.

He was taken off after 64 minutes, along with Tim Howard, as Moyes looked to give run outs to Wright and Anichebe.

But even the young Nigerian, who has been so prolific in pre-season, could find a way past the stoic Bilbao defence and the Basques ran out as 1-0 winners.

Despite the defeat it was another good run out for the players and, despite his lack of goals, Andy Johnson has shown enough to suggest that he will add another dimension to the Blues forward play when the season gets underway.