It was the late, late show again for Town as two goals in the last nine minutes put Everton to the sword. As against Leicester and Charlton earlier in the season Town fans had to be patient as their side finally overcame the opposition. And as against Charlton the breakthrough came from Matt Holland with a second, from Alun Armstrong, two minutes later. However Everton were not the eleven man defence that Leicester and Charlton were, they had their moments and could themselves have scored on a few occasions prior to Town’s goals.
The Blues lined up with new man Mark Burchill up front with James Scowcroft. Hermann Hreidarsson missed out with his hamstring injury, but Alun Armstrong (back), and Martijn Reuser (calf) both overcame problems to begin on the bench. Mark Venus and Matt Holland overcame flu earlier in the week to start.
The game started brightly for Town. Within the first few minutes Matt Holland headed a deep cross wide of Paul Gerrard’s post. A few minutes later Mark Burchill, who had already shown his pace on a few occasions latched on to a deep cross from Jermaine Wright. He hammered a shot goalwards, but Paul Gerrard had spread himself well and the ball cannoned away and immediately Leeds were on the attack. Kevin Campbell tried to put in Francis Jeffers, but Titus Bramble stole the ball away from the striker.
Town fans were convinced they had a penalty when Burchill sped into the area and took the ball away from Gerrard. He was running away from goal but contact seemed to have been made and when the ball ran for a throw it was given to Everton, so no contact had been made with the ball by the keeper. A number of Town players approached referee Graham Poll to discuss the matter, but no Kevin Lynch/Jose Garcia-Aranda moment was forthcoming.
Bramble received what appeared to be a harsh yellow card when he went in with Jeffers down the left. Minimal contact seemed to have been made, but Jeffers reacted theatrically to the challenge and Poll responded to that. A few seconds later Graveson took a swing at Jamie Clapham’s ankle and although a free-kick was given no card was forthcoming. Town fans reacted angrily to the inconsistency in the refereeing.
Town had certainly had the best of the opening fifteen minutes or so, but Everton were gradually pulling themselves more and more into the game. Without ever really having masses of possession the visitors created a number of chances. Graveson hit two almost identical shots wide of Richard Wright’s goal while their best chance probably fell to Jeffers who hit a shot into the side netting when he should have done better. Fabian Wilnis did well to cut out a cross inside the six yard box with Jeffers close behind. Richard Wright grabbed the ball despite rather muted protests that this constituted a passback from the Everton fans and players.
A stirring run from Titus Bramble was the best we saw from Town in the latter stages of the first half which nearly ended with a goal. Titus picked up the ball deep in his own half and made one of his powerful defender-splintering runs. He lost the ball but then put a defender under pressure on his own goal-line on the left edge of the penalty area. He won the ball, gave it to Scowcroft and Scowy hit a shot which flashed across the area.
Half-time came and a draw was probably the fair scoreline. George Burley made a change after the break with Alun Armstrong coming on for Fabian Wilnis, worryingly this seems as if it was because of an injury rather than tactics. Armstrong went up front and Scowy dropped into midfield. Given Gary Croft’s absence with injury for the next month George Burley will hope that if Wilnis is injured he isn’t too bad.
The second half started much like the second period of the first. Town failed to really impose themselves on the game and Everton battled away. Burchill headed goalwards, but Gerrard pushed the ball round the post. It was the closest the Scot went to scoring, but he certainly showed fans enough to leave them impressed.
Matt Holland had a free-kick swerve towards Gerrard who saved low down. It was looking like one of those frustrating afternoons for Town fans.
The game was opened up for Town when Alex Nyarko received his second yellow card. Titus Bramble made on of several (B)rambles up the pitch and was felled by Nyarko just inside the Everton half. Graham Poll had no doubt that it was a bookable offence, although it was one of those you’d be cross about if it happened to your own player. Nyarko, who had done well in midfield, trotted off and there was new impetus behind Town.
Shortly after this Nabil Abidallah was brought on for his first experience of Premiership football. He replaced Jim Magilton in a midfield, which by now included Martijn Reuser who had replaced the excellent Mark Venus.
Just when it seemed that Town would have to settle for a draw Matt Holland pulled another one out of the bag. The ball was headed out of the area by a defender as Holland ran in. He headed the ball forward and looped the ball towards Gerrard’s right-hand corner. The keeper will point to the crowd of players in front of him which left him unsighted. The cheers from the crowd were as much in relief as they were for celebration.
Two minutes later the game was safe. Martijn Reuser crossed deeply from the right where Burchill picked up the ball. The Scot crossed the ball into the box where Armstrong headed in while diving low. Had he not got to the ball Abidallah could well have claimed a first goal, but he didn’t seem too bothered as he joined Armstrong and Burchill in celebrating.
Town played out the remainder of the game and the cheers rang around Portman Road as Graham Poll blew the final whistle. The bad run was over and Town were back to fifth. The European dream is still on…