What a night this threatened to be. Moyesy and the boys in blue were on the verge of achieving a feat which we had not managed since Howard Kendall first time around! A win tonight would guarantee European football in the New Year and we would top our group with a 100% record.

There was just one problem, we were playing Advocaat Dick’s Zenit St. Petersburgh, newly crowned Russian champions. So let’s just stop there and consider the size of the task. This was the equivalent of a top 4 Premiership side, the best team in Russia, better than the current representative in the Champions League – so there was the size of the task.

Despite this, Moyesy chose to change things around with his line up, some enforced and some not. A foot injury to Joey meant The Jag and his new skin’ead ‘aircut came in to partner Roger, Bainsey replaced Nuno and up front he went for the circus act that is Jimmy Mac and AJ. A strong bench included Ossy, The Yak, Big Vic , Tommy & Vaughny. The atmosphere was electric, Zenit made themselves heard as they jumped up and down in the Upper Bullens but the Toffee’s responded and the Old Lady rocked. Tim Howard recovered from the trots to take his place between the sticks but there was nothing to give him a squeaky bum early on as we took the game to the Ruski’s.

We had plenty of possession in the first half but we created few chances, it was a tight game. Before the match Advocaat Dick had criticised Everton’s style of play saying we played the long ball and were very physical, it looked more like the other way around as we put them under pressure and they picked up the bookings. The main talking point came midway though the first half. Timmy slid in at the far post to send a shot goal wards with the keeper stranded. The centre half slid in to clear for a corner, the ball hitting him on the leg and chest, we appealed, got a pen and a red card was shown. Zenit down to 10 men and a penalty, happy days. Hang on, it’s in the Street End on a European night, we don’t score those. Sure enough, after their goalie had walked up to the spot doing a bit of gamesmanship, up stepped Our Tater to do an AJ (well almost), he skimmed the bar and justice was done.
If only our little magician had been as accurate with his penalty as he was with his 30 yard free kick 10 mins later. This time he fired one brilliantly towards the top corner, the keeper made a tremendous save on to the bar but we did not react quick enough and it was cleared.

Just before half time we were unlucky again when Cars hit the post from a precise shot from just outside the box, the ball rolled across the goal, again nobody had bought the ticket. Then we got lucky, from a shot outside the box the ball hit The Jag on the arm and whilst they appealed for a penalty the ref from Iceland, Advocaat Dick said he was more like one of Tesco Terry’s lot, waved play on.
HALF TIME 0-0

We huffed and puffed in the first half, created just a couple of chances and defended well. Jimmy Mac was as frustrating as ever and AJ looked short of match practice but things were looking good, they were down to 10 men and we knew the challenge and the prize. It was more like Everton that had 10 men in the second half as they carved out two golden chances, both one on one. The first must have tested Howard’s ring piece but he stood up well and saved, the second was down to a poor effort, through with just Tim to beat and a bouncing ball, instead of lobbing, the comrade chose to shoot and sent it higher than Tater’s penalty into the Street End.

Time to change things. Off came Jimmy Mac and AJ for Big Vic and Vaughny, we left it late but the breakthrough came with just five minutes to go. Roger had stayed up in attack and won a corner, from the corner the ball fell to Roger again, he lashed in a shot, the goalie saved, it bounced to Timmy who took a touch then smashed it over the line. A scrap broke out, the goalie seeming to take exception to Timmy before the Aussy got up and ran to the Park End corner flag for his usual celebration. Six goals in nine games and we are unbeaten since his return – if only he had played against the shite and Clattenburg had a Tim Howard tummy?

We saw the game out and we had beaten the Russian Champions. A great achievement given the team changes and the fact that there were a number of under par performances on the night. However it was a night for celebration, we have won our UEFA league with a game to spare, we can use the squad again against Alkmaar and rest players for Man U away on 23rd. Before then is the draw in Nyon on 21st and we are in the last 32 – bring on the shite! COYB

FULL TIME 1-0

Mikky Goes Close

Vaughny and Harry Mob Tiny

 

Sausage Reports from Goodison Park

Today's Blue Kipper Star Man

Star Man

Stats

Goals

Bad Boys

Prem Table

UEFA Group Table

 

 

Dick Advocaat