Aston Villa v Everton
Everton's trip to Aston Villa ended in a highly frustrating 1-0 defeat.
Just as had happened at Blackburn on the opening day, the Toffees conceded early and then dominated the game without finding an equaliser.
Luke Young stole in to put the home side ahead after just nine minutes and despite having more possession Steven Pienaar's first half strike that hit the bar was as close as Everton came to restoring parity.
John Carew out-jumps Marouane Fellaini
Leighton Baines had already surged down the left hand side and hit the byline inside six minutes but Villa took the lead in one of their rare first half attacks.
In the ninth minute Marouane Fellaini missed a clearance and Ashley Young fed namesdake Luke who finished superbly with his left foot.
From that point on it was one-way traffic and straight away Jermaine Beckford's burst was halted illegally by Richard Dunne only for Arteta's free kick to be easily fielded by Brad Friedel.
The Blues threatened again down the left after 18 minutes when Pienaar's brilliant curling effort hit the bar and Beckford fired the eventual rebound a mile over the bar.
Leighton Baines battles with Mark Albrighton
Arteta and Fellaini both had efforts on goal as Everton's sustained period of pressure was alleviated only by Marc Albrighton's deflected shot before half time.
Carew glanced wide early in the second period then Ashley Young fired wide after a pacy break from the half way line.
Ten minutes into the second half Louis Saha was on for Beckford and the Frenchman had a header and a blocked shot within a couple of minutes of coming on.
Then Tim Howard kept his side in it with a superb double save from Carew and then Ashley Young.
His American counterpart Friedel made equally as good a save at the other end and James Collins almost inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net.
David Moyes speaks to compatriot Kevin MacDonald before the game
Just after the hour Rodwell glanced another Arteta cross wide but then the England hopeful picked up a knock and was replaced by Seamus Coleman.
Howard saved again from Young in the 75th minute and Albrighton sliced the rebound over when it was easier to score.
The game was becoming a real end-to-end affair and Coleman beat three players on the way to the byline before his cut-back was scrambled away.
There was a succession of Everton corners in the last ten minutes, with Jagielka's header over the closest the Toffees came to an equaliser before Saha was brilliantly denied - twice - by Friedel in added time.
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chris skillicorn
Brennan Finnegan - not really sure how many games you watched last season, i'm guessing not many as any Evertonian worth his salt knows full well that Fellaini is far more effective playing in the role he played on Sunday, he was awesome in that role before he got injured, if you remember this is why Moyes was calling him the best player in the league at the time. To put him up front would simply be ridiculous, I am not too concerned yet with the lack of goals as they are clearly going to come, if you look at the chances we are creating there is plenty to be smiling about, it is more bad luck than anything that we aren't scoring, that said I will agree that most of our strikers are not world beaters, still not sure about Beckford, Saha plays well when he can be bothered and I think the Yak is just doing what the Yak has always done, impressed in the first season and then given up. We haven't got a 30 goal a season striker as we could simply not afford one but, we have managed in the past without and still managed some impressice season's. One major sore point still though is what does Coleman have to do to start a game, he was the difference for me although Hibbert played well and defended well Coleman just makes things happen, he was on the pitch two minutes and he went passed four players to create a good chance. Start him so we can go a goal up and if he struggles we can bring on Hibbert to help defend the lead (simples).
Tuesday 31st Aug 2010 12:28
darren walkler
what no goals,a good performance and plenty of good chances,why was saha coleman not starting,and why was rodwell playing wide.fellaini played well apart from the little unclearance which led to the second defeat in 3 weeks. are everton in trouble,not yet but the next fixtures are not looking good.but we cant possibly play that well again and lose.get the yak back.i also thought hibbert played well and being evertons most experienced player.
Tuesday 31st Aug 2010 11:13
Colin Hafez
Another game of missed chances! Total domination, no goals. Why was Rodwell played out of position and pretty ineffectual on the right? Arteta plays far too deep to be effective, and again what does Coleman have to do to get a start, again he caused havoc when on for Rodwell! and the back 4 are not working as a unit, maybe its time to recall Yobo, 3 of your back 4 under 6ft is not ideal
Tuesday 31st Aug 2010 10:27
Luke Skinner
is moyes really leaving for villa?
Monday 30th Aug 2010 21:04
Alec Walker
Did anyone watch Match Of The Day last night I couldn't believe it was the match I heard the commentary on. Must have been edited by a Villa supporter. It was full of Villa attacking.
Monday 30th Aug 2010 15:24
James Allison
If it wasn't for Tim, yesterday's result could have been much worse. But three games, no clean sheet, that immediately puts pressure on the team. Some of our play yeserday was outstanding but it also included some sloppy mistakes. Yes, it is only game 3, but when you look at our run in last season, some silly draws cost us Europe this season, games we should have expected to win. Teams seem to be plyaing us as if their life depends upon the result maybe we need to be more self assured and confident and take our time - dictate tempo. Results will come I am sure but not the season we all hoped for..
Monday 30th Aug 2010 14:08
brennan finnegan
Sadly now everyone is realising what iv been saying all summer Our strikers are midtable or champion standard Ok Saha was unlucky against Vile but theres no use playing the most skillful play in midfield if wev no finish Again il say what some idiot called me crazy for. Play Felli up front with Tim as they excelled in our last crisis
Monday 30th Aug 2010 13:38
Mikel Arregui
I can't either believe some criticism on some players, like Robert Hill with Arteta, who's had to go as back in these games as to play DM to get the ball with all the physical effort that requires (covering all the centre of the pitch!) or others with Distin, who's been great for me or even Hibbo who's been very solid defensively. If there's one player I've found weak is Heitinga, who for me can't play DM cause he's got no attacking creativity, and has been poor as CB also. He can be good, but he isn't now imho. Nevertheless, despite the frustration caused by this league start, I still have full confidence in Moyes and he knows better than us. COYB!
Monday 30th Aug 2010 13:09
Mikel Arregui
Some people here have totally lost it. We've not played so bad, it's the ending (goals) that we've failed as well as some mistakes in conceding them. To suggest Moyes is bad because we've won no silverware is ridiculous... what budgeet did he haave? Look at the Gunners with their mega budget and they've won nothing for 5 or 6 years. WE were till last year the only team to break into the so-called bifg four, we've beeen consistently top 6, we've played an FA Cup final... considering our financial status those are huge achievements! And I'd like to see which teams won't go on a1 point from 9 run during the season, not many I believe. Moyes can make mistakes like ANYONE but he's great and he'll get the best of our team, I'm sure! IMWT!
Monday 30th Aug 2010 13:03
Jos Rowland
whats with every1 slagging distin ???? hes been one of our most consistent players this season and with jags making rare mistakes hes there to clean it up, hes one of very few who doesnt just whack it upfield he plays it out and drives forward with the ball !!!!!, my ideal team is howard, baines, distin, jags, coleman, pienaar (lm), felli and heitinga (holding midfield), arteta (rm), cahill and saha up front but beckford when hes ready that allows us for a strong bench gueye, billy,rodwell,neville,osman,yak,anichebe etc etc
Monday 30th Aug 2010 12:27
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