February

February began in fabulous fashion. It was a night to remember for every Evertonian – even more so for Dan Gosling.

The teenager entered the game as a substitute and with three minutes of extra time remaining, steered a deft match-winning effort past Pepe Reina. It made him an instant hero and a future Goal of the Season winner.

The feel-good factor continued into a 3-0 thrashing of Bolton, with new loan signing Jo bagging a brace. Aston Villa were then dispatched 3-1 in the fifth round of the Cup – a game notable for Jack Rodwell’s first Everton goal.

Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta were the other goalscorers but there was soon to be bad news for the mercurial Spaniard.

In the next game, away at Newcastle, he went down injured after four minutes and was subsequently ruled out for the entire season.

Everton also lost Victor Anichebe for the season in that game – a goalless draw – following a savage tackle from Kevin Nolan that saw the Toon midfielder sent from the field.

Arteta’s absence was a blow but Everton rallied and beat West Brom at Goodison the following weekend, rounding the month off with a 2-0 win over the Baggies courtesy of goals from Cahill and Louis Saha.