Match Review - Everton (h)

[Jourdan]

Derby 0-2 Everton
By Jourdan Rhule

Everton strolled to a comfortable win against a dreadful Derby side courtesy of goals from Mikel Arteta and Yakubu.

The Rams gifted the visitors the three points with disorganised and dozy defending and a blatant lack of ideas going forward.

The Toffees looked the more threatening in the opening 20 minutes, but wasted two inviting opportunities. Leighton Baines played in Mikel Arteta with a low cross from the left on 3 minutes, but the Spaniard’s side-footed strike trickled into the path of Stephen Bywater from 10 yards. In his first Premier League start of the season, Tim Cahill fired a warning sign to the hosts as he headed wide from 6 yards.

The game was littered by more fouls than goalscoring opportunities and a goal was needed to liven up a bleak affair. And Arteta was on cue giving Everton a deserved lead, after Yakubu dummied to allow the former Rangers midfielder to pounce on Phil Jagielka’s low pass from the right and smash the ball low and hard past Bywater from just inside the area, leaving the Derby defence looking sheepish.

Chances were at a premium during the remainder of the half as neither side looked particularly dangerous. Stephen Pearson had the best chance - he steered his 25-yard right-foot shot towards Tim Howard’s right hand post, only to be thwarted by the American who scurried across the goalmouth to save.

As the teams trudged out for the second half, Alan Stubbs replaced Leighton Baines who had picked up an injury after clashing with an opposing player late in the first half. The substitution meant Joleon Lescott moved across to play at left back.

It was the visiting side that once again started strongest and came closest to scoring as Yakubu nodded Arteta’s in-swinging corner inches wide from close range on 48 minutes. Rams manager Billy Davies made substitutions in quick succession in an attempt to wrestle the initiative away from their opponents. Robert Earnshaw replaced Eddie Lewis before Steve Howard traded his place on the bench with Craig Fagan. But Davies’ adventurous move to try and draw level was instantly undone as Everton edged further ahead on 62 minutes. The club’s record signing controlled Steven Pienaar’s pass before racing clear to poke the ball beyond the stranded Bywater from 6 yards.

Looking incapable of scoring one, Derby were confronted with the seemingly impossible task of scoring twice in the remaining 28 minutes. The Rams plugged away but were not even able to force a save out of Howard as Barnes’ fizzing 20 yard shot was deflected wide before substitute Earnshaw wriggled free on the edge of the box only to see his curling effort sail high and wide of goal.

Everton came through three minutes of stoppage time untroubled to seal their second away win of the season and send Derby back to the bottom of the Premier League.

After such an encouraging display last week, it was disappointing to see Derby deliver such a dreary performance and not make Everton work hard enough for the three points. Everton were far from their best and Derby were close to their worst. The continued use of the long-ball approach, despite Howard not being on the pitch for over half the game, highlighted the hosts’ clear inability to change their style of play and by doing so, it made defending for the opposition painfully easy. Everton showed more impetus going forward but the timid defending of the home side gave them a helping hand. The Rams make a swift return to the bottom of the Premier League and unless they improve, that’s where they’ll stay.

Player Ratings

Bywater – 6 – MOTM - Conceded two goals to taint a solid performance

Mears – 5 – A limp performance by his standards – not looking as good as he was earlier in the season

Davis – 6 – Acquitted himself well, but was unable to contain Yakubu, who proved a handful for the home defence

Moore – 6 – A gutsy performance was marred as his lack of pace was exposed time and time again

McEveley – 5 – Linked up well with Lewis going forward, but looked increasingly vulnerable whilst defending

Barnes – 5 – No moments of magic yet from the youngster, hopefully he’ll improve as he gains match fitness in the coming weeks

Oakley – 5 – Looked jaded, weary and uninspiring. In need of a rest

Pearson – 5 – Overpowered in central midfield

Lewis – 5 – Struggled to pose a threat due to his lack of pace

Fagan – 5 – Works hard yet little end product

Miller – 6 – Displayed lots of endeavour but was restrained by the organised Toffees defence

Subs.:

Earnshaw – 6 – Showed hunger, determination and enthusiasm, although he rarely troubled the Everton defence

Howard – 4 – Showed exactly why he’s been warming the bench in recent games with a very subdued display

Jones – 4 – By the time he came on, the game was done and dusted so he was never going to inspire a comeback. Although, he’ll be pleased to get some first team action after being starved of it in recent weeks