Town marched to perhaps their most impressive result of the season so far as they beat Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park. Despite the very poor nature of the opposition, Town were very impressive, defending when it was required, passing well and taking chances when they were there.
The Blues lined up 4-4-2 with Marcus Stewart and Richard Naylor up front. At the back Hermann Hreidarsson played left back with Titus Bramble and John McGreal in the centre.
Town started brightly, passing the ball about very neatly. Paul Gascoigne was notable in his failure to be able to get into the midfield battle, well get into it when the ball was still there anyway. Several times Matty Holland’s ankles felt the sharp end of Gazza’s boots as the fading star failed to get to grips with Town’s slick passing. Referee Winter failed to see anything of these having an afternoon to forget.
John McGreal is apparently a Liverpool fan and therefore will be doubly pleased about his first ever Town goal. A corner from the right shot in and McGreal bulleted a header past Gerrard. It was an excellent header and Town’s first goal from a corner since…. anyone can remember.
After this Town went into sitting back mode and Everton got more into it. They came close through a goalmouth scramble, but Richard Wright and then a cluster of defenders repelled the assault. Everton’s best chances were coming when the ball was played into the channels for Kevin Campbell and it was from one of these that Richard Wright made a superb double save. He rushed out to save from Campbell and then got himself in position for Gascoigne’s follow up and the defence cleared their lines. The referee blew the whistle for half-time with George Burley’s lads still a goal to the good, however, had Wright not been at his best it would have been very different.
The second half was all Marcus Stewart’s. With a little help from the very generous Everton defence. First Steve Watson passed the ball to Richard Naylor who continued down the left wing and put in an inch perfect cross for Stewart to hammer past Gerrard. It was an excellent goal from a strike partnership which looks to be the best the club have.
David Unsworth joined in on the present giving on the hour playing a woeful passback to Gerrard who had no chance of beating Stewart to the ball. The Town striker did his walking round the keeper thing that he did at Bolton last season before deciding he wanted to do it again. After a breather he decided to try to put the ball home, but it was blocked. He put away the rebound with no trouble. The Town players and fans went wild as 3-0 was more than they had ever imagined, and it was as much as the Town deserved.
Stewart could have scored a third but Unsworth got back to cover and put the ball for a corner.
And that was largely it. Everton huffed and puffed, brought on Stephen Hughes and his dad Mark, but they lacked any idea at all. Town defended stoutly and broke quickly. Scowcroft replaced Naylor and Johnno Stewart as Town saw out the rest of the game without any major scares.
Eleven points and ninth place is a superb return from the first two months of the season and is better than we ever dreamed of. I’m off to drink a toast to Marcus Stewart and the rest of them.
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