Everton v Aston Villa
Everton's 1-1 halloween draw with Aston Villa was neither a trick nor a treat for David Moyes' side.
While the result saw the Blues arrest their three game losing streak, this was a game in which they were the better side.
And further frustration was endured by the late dismissal of Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, the Russian who gave Everton a first half lead.
John Carew equlaised with his first touch after the break for the visitors, who also finished with ten men after Carlos Cuellar saw red.
Everton were the more progressive side in the first half, even though chances weren't exactly free-flowing.
Billy slots home from 12 yards
Yakubu, making his first league start since the horrific Achilles injury he suffered last year, looked lively in the opening period and he helped create a dangerous position for Bilyaletdinov inside ten minutes. James Collins saved the day for visitors, depriving Marouane Fellaini a sight at goal.
The Belgian sent a long-ranger in soon after though, and Leighton Baines fired a free-kick at the wall.
James Milner suffered the same problem with his own set piece at the other end but Everton looked more likely to break the deadlock.
Yakubu headed wide after a delightful lofted pass from John Heitinga just before the half hour, but Stephen Warnock went uncomfortably close five minutes later to serve notice of Villa's threat.
Carew equalises with his first touch
Finally, though, in first half stoppage time, the Blues took the lead. Tim Cahill chased down a ball in the Villa left-back position and sent in a cross that bobbled around Yakubu's feet before falling to Bilyaletdinov who made no mistake with a precise side-foot effort.
But the good work was undone in frustrating fashion inside the first minute of the second period.
Everton failed to clear successive Villa crosses and Carew, on at the break, scored after Tim Howard had saved well from Agbonlahor.
Petrov had a vicious drive deflected over with half an hour to go but chances had dried up for both sides.
Bilyaletdinov celebrates his opener - woe was to follow
To try and change that, Moyes brought on Louis Saha for the last eighteen minutes or so.
Jack Rodwell sliced a shot wide from distance and Warnock nodded away well with Cahill poised to head in a Baines cross with seven minutes left.
It looked as if Everton were the likelier scorers and sub Saha rifled wide soon afterwards.
But the Blues' hopes of a winner were dented when goalscorer Bilyaletdinov was dismissed for a two-footed challenge with three minutes left. Carlos Cuellar followed the Russian down the tunnel for a second yellow moments later and neither side could muster a dramatic winner.
Your Comments
Please login to post a comment.
The views below are submitted by registered users of evertonfc.com and do not necessarily reflect the views of Everton Football Club.
james obrien
I believe our best back four would be Baines LB Heitinga and Jags CB and Niell RB. I know we have signed Distin for alot of money and we have needed him because of our injury situation but i dont think he is first choice when everyone else is fit. I actually miss Phill Neville! When he is not playing i can see that we are missing his presence and leadership as well as his attitude to the game!
Monday 2nd Nov 2009 21:07
Alex Gregory
sorry we well deserved 3 points and 4 the first time in the last loads of matches tim howard shouted 4 once but i can't really blame him 4 the goal the defence should ave been more quicker which annoyes me the sooner we gets jags back the better cause we wont concede silly goals like that
Monday 2nd Nov 2009 10:35
colin anderson
How is Heitinga doing ? Did we play him in midfield on Saturday? He used to get a lot of goals for Athletic Madrid but is he offering the same goal threat for us ie coming up for corners etc ?
Monday 2nd Nov 2009 09:47
clinton davids
I cannot believe some of the comments made.We deserved to win the game and Villa is no push over.We played well and we can only get better when our players return to match fitness.January we need to find a key playmaker for the mid field and be cover for Arteta and Peanuts.We lack creativeness and hence the lack of goal scoring opportunities.Nevertheless the future is looking bright.COYB.
Monday 2nd Nov 2009 06:20
Shane Robjohns
Everton were the better team on the day. But i ask you why Saha only got about 19 mins eventhough he is Everton's leading goal scorer for the year. I love Yakubu but saha is in much better form. Come on Moyes!! Lets hope he gets more game time.
Monday 2nd Nov 2009 05:54
afshin issaee
good result if we where away but we have to make out home matches count for something and we need more cleansheets i am happy that billy scoreed but upset he got red dont worry soon we will be our selves just wait until injury term is over then where back coyb
Sunday 1st Nov 2009 20:26
david harman
sorry John Wilson but I would take 1 piont any day rather than 0 ,yes it would have been better if we got 3 but dont you think that the team would of wanted that aswell, they did their best dont lose hope in their abilities to win more matches in the coming weeks.
Sunday 1st Nov 2009 20:06
lee dalton
everton were the better team first half 4 me.but second half lacked that killer touch yakubu was isolated up front on his own. sould have brought saha on a bit earleyer point was a fair result.
Sunday 1st Nov 2009 17:02
JOHN WILSON
sorry david harman we took 1 piont from 3 at home what u call it ??
Sunday 1st Nov 2009 09:55
31
318