Everton v Wigan
Everton have secured all three points against Wigan Athletic with an emphatic 4-0 win
The nature of the four-goal thrashing will instill confidence in David Moyes’ side and puts added emphasis on next week’s clash with Aston Villa, who are just one point above the Blues after losing against Manchester United.
The victory came courtesy of a brace from Brazilian striker Jo, one from Marouane Fellaini, with Leon Osman rounding off the result.
Moyes’ decision to name Jo as the lone frontman paid dividends for Everton as his two goals – one in the first half and one in the second - went a long way to ensuring all three points.
In fact, the Goodison chief appeared to make all the right tactical decisions going into the clash as he opted to play Marouane Fellaini just off Jo. It was the Belgian, sporting his iconic afro once again, who scored the second just 60 seconds in to the second half.
It was a spritely start to the game for the home side whose intricate passing in the midfield earned them plenty of possession. The lethargic performance from the Portsmouth clash appeared to be well out the players’ minds and despite not troubling Chris Kirkland early on, Everton showed plenty signs of things to come.
Within the first 10 minutes, Moyes’ men had already recorded three efforts on goal. The best of which came from Leon Osman, whose shot was scuffed just wide of the Wigan post.
Steve Bruce’s men were no pushovers however – the side who lied eighth in the Premier League going into the game could have taken the lead on 16 minutes when Paul Scharner rose in the box to head from six yards. Tim Howard in goal was equal to the shot.
As the half hour mark approached, the Blues got their first.
The goal came after referee Phil Dowd played a good advantage when Fellaini appeared to have been fouled by Emmerson Boyce.
The ball fell into the feet of Osman who played a clever pass through to Jo. The Brazilian striker had no trouble in firing low into the bottom right hand corner from 20 yards, giving Kirkland no chance.
Wigan almost provided a sucker punch on half time when Howard was called into action twice in quick succession. Ben Watson’s free-kick from just outside the penalty area had the keeper scrambling to tip the ball around the post. The resulting corner fell to Boyce, whose close range shot fell directly into the hands of the American stopper.
Everton came out from the break flying - doubling their lead after just one minute. Tony Hibbert was the creator as his low cross landed at the feet of big Belgian Fellaini, who redirected the cross over the goal-line with a smart, side-foot effort.
That spurred Moyes’ men on and just five minutes later Jo got his second, increasing the lead to three.
Osman, who played an important role throughout the clash in the heart of the midfield, travelled forwards with the ball before playing an intricate pass through to Fellaini. The Blues’ record signing struck and Kirkland could only parry his effort into the feet of Jo who side-footed into the back of the net.
Wigan were evidently shell-shocked as the Goodison faithful chanted for Moyes’ men to attack – and with the pressure off, that is exactly what they did.
Fellaini was at the heart of the action once again for the fourth and similar to the third goal, it was his shot that was parried by the former Liverpool goalkeeper. This time the ball landed at the feet of Osman – he passed the ball over the goal-line from six yards.
Wigan searched for a consolation goal in the final half hour of the game, but it never came.
Moyes introduced Jack Rodwell, Louis Saha and Dan Gosling shortly after his side went four up – the Scot clearly had the showdown clash with Aston Villa in mind, which takes place next Sunday.
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