December

First up in December, Everton headed to London to face champions Chelsea.
 
After the 4-1 home reverse to West Brom, David Moyes had called for a response from his players – and they duly delivered.
 
The Toffees were more than competitive throughout and after they fell behind to a Didier Drogba penalty before half time, they stepped things up even more.
 
Leighton Baines was outstanding and he helped set-up Jermaine Beckford for a deserved leveller in the last ten minutes.

Fans hoped it would be the turning point but seven days later back at Goodison, frustration set in again. Everton dominated a poor Wigan team but couldn’t find a winner and the crowd showed their feelings at the final whistle.
 
But the ill-feeling was all but forgotten in the next game. Moyes’ teams have an excellent record at Manchester City in recent years and the run continued.
 
Tim Cahill and Baines had the Blues 2-0 up inside 20 minutes and despite a City onslaught and the dismissal of Victor Anichebe, they held on to eventually win 2-1.
 
The victory was celebrated with equal glee by the players and the travelling supporters who had braved the coldest of nights to watch the drama unfold.
 
But Everton were denied the chance to build on that win when the Boxing Day clash with Birmingham at Goodison was called off.
 
Frozen pipes meant the stadium wasn’t in a fit condition to host a Premier League game.
 
So instead, attention turned to the game at West Ham on 28 December. Avram Grant’s side had struggled all season but came into the match on the back of a morale boosting away win at Fulham two days previously.

Tony Hibbert, deputising for Phil Jagielka as a makeshift centre half, scored an unfortunate own goal to give the Hammers the lead but Seamus Coleman capped a fine move to equalise before half time.
 
Everton were the better side in the second period but couldn’t find a winner, meaning they ended 2010 in the bottom half of the table.