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Everton's Steven Naismith tames Stevenage but Oviedo injury mars win Everton's Steven Naismith tames Stevenage but Oviedo injury mars win
(about 1 hour later)
Anything Liverpool can do this season, Everton, it seems, can do equally well, if not better. Having seen their local rivals dispose of lower-league opposition down in Bournemouth earlier in the day, Everton looked just as comfortable in easing past the challenge of League One Stevenage. With just one point between the fourth-placed Reds and sixth-placed Blues in the Premier League, Tuesday's Merseyside derby at Anfield is beginning to look as though it could be one of the pivotal matches of the season. Anything Liverpool can do this season, Everton, it seems, can do equally well, if not better. Having seen their local rivals dispose of lower-league opposition down in Bournemouth earlier in the day, Everton looked just as comfortable in easing past the challenge of League One Stevenage. With just one point between the fourth-placed Reds and sixth-placed Blues in the Premier League, Tuesday's Merseyside derby at Anfield could be one of the pivotal matches of the season.
While Liverpool were close to full strength on the south coast, the Everton manager Roberto Martínez named a distinctly unfamiliar team. It included a first start of the season for Tony Hibbert at right-back, a debut for Aiden McGeady as part of an advanced three in midfield, and Steven Naismith as a lone striker. Unfortunately for Roberto Martínez, however, Everton will go into the game with an already extensive injury list added to by the loss of the Costa Rican midfielder Bryan Oviedo, who suffered a double fracture of the leg early in the game. Even with Oviedo joining Seamus Coleman, Antolín Alcaraz, Ross Barkley, Steven Pienaar, Gerard Deulofeu, Darron Gibson and Arouna Koné on the sidelines, however, Martínez was prepared to acknowledge that an FA Cup and Champions League double remains on the cards.
Before the game Martínez, rather ludicrously, had insisted that, as the home team, Stevenage had to be considered favourites to win, conveniently ignoring the fact Graham Westley's team are rock bottom of League One. On the other hand, they did take Everton into an extra half hour before losing at Goodison in the second round of the Capital One Cup back in August. As Westley pointed out, moreover, Stevenage were struggling in League One when they beat Newcastle United 3-1 in the third round of this competition three years ago. "I'm excited, I think we have a strong enough squad to face the competitions," the Spaniard said. "If anything, being involved with the FA Cup brings you extra competition for places."
There was also, he added, a chance that Everton would be "bewildered by the bizarre atmosphere" of the club's Lamex Stadium. Westley was probably not referring to the return to the commentary box of Andy Gray three years to the day after being sacked by Sky for "unacceptable and offensive behaviour", though the presence of the former Scotland striker did prompt the weather Gods to unleash a rainstorm of spectacular proportions an hour before kick-off. It was true that whereas Liverpool were at close to full strength on the south coast, Martínez named a distinctly unfamiliar team. It included a first start of the season for Tony Hibbert at right-back, a debut for Aiden McGeady as part of an advanced three in midfield and Steven Naismith as a lone striker.
That the pitch took it surprisingly well was to Everton's advantage, though it was Stevenage who nearly took an early lead when Joel Robles failed to gather, and with the Everton goalkeeper on the floor, Lucas Akins saw his shot blocked by John Stones on the line. Before the game, Martínez, rather ludicrously, had insisted that, as the home team, Stevenage had to be considered favourites, which conveniently ignored that Graham Westley's team are rock bottom of League One. There was also, the Stevenage manager had said, a chance that Everton would be "bewildered by the bizarre atmosphere" of the club's Lamex Stadium. Westley was probably not referring to the return to the commentary box of Andy Gray three years to the day after being sacked by Sky for "unacceptable and offensive behaviour", though the presence of the former Scotland striker may have prompted the weather gods to unleash a spectacular rainstorm an hour before kick-off.
What a difference it might have made, the more so when barely a minute later, Everton were in front. Kevin Mirallas saw his shot saved by Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day, but McGeady was first to the rebound and pulled the ball back across goal for Naismith to control and prod home from close range. That the pitch took it surprisingly well was to Everton's advantage, though it was Stevenage who nearly took the early lead. The match was probably safe after five minutes, by which time Stevenage's Lucas Akins had seen his goal-bound shot blocked by Everton's John Stones, before Steven Naismith put the visitors ahead. What a difference it might have made, the more so when barely a minute later Kevin Mirallas's shot was saved by Chris Day, but McGeady pulled the ball back across goal for Naismith to control and prod home from close range.
Soon afterwards the sight of Bryan Oviedo being taken off on a stretcher with what looked horribly like a broken ankle after his studs appeared to catch in the softening turf was a miserable one, though the Everton supporters were quickly distracted when Leon Osman sent Naismith clear through the middle. The Scot slid the ball past Day without fuss to score his second. The second goal, finished by Naismith after an error by Stevenage centre-half Jon Ashton, ended the game as a competitive spectacle. Westley's players stuck to their task, but having been fortunate not to fall further behind when Mirallas's left-foot shot was saved by Day, the resulting corner was not properly cleared and John Heitinga – brought on for Phil Jagielka at half-time – headed Mirallas's overhead cross past Day for Everton's third.
That goal ended the game as a competitive spectacle, though as one optimistic Stevenage supporter pointed out, Manchester City had managed to come back from two down at home. Westley's players stuck to their task, but having been fortunate not to fall further behind when Mirallas saw his left-foot shot saved by Day, the resulting corner was not properly cleared and John Heitinga – brought on for Jagielka at half-time – headed Mirallas's spectacular overhead cross past Day for Everton's third. From then on, for Everton, it was a matter of playing out time, while doing their best to avoid further injuries. François Zoko drove narrowly wide as Stevenage continued to seek consolation, but their supporters were heading out of the stadium long before Magaye Gueye scored Everton's fourth.
From then on it was a matter of playing out time for Everton, while doing their best to avoid further further injuries. With Oviedo joining Seamus Coleman, Antolín Alcaraz, Ross Barkley, Steven Pienaar, Gerard Deulofeu, Darron Gibson and Arouna Koné on the sidelines, Martínez probably withdrew Mirallas, the subject of a number of fouls, for his own protection. Westley was characteristically ungracious in defeat. "If we'd got a goal early it could have been different, but we didn't show enough mental strength," he said. "In all honesty there was nothing they did that surprised us, but the goals we conceded were soft, there were errors leaving to every goal, and if you do that you're not going to win any game."
François Zoko drove narrowly wide as Stevenage continued to seek consolation, but their supporters were heading out of the stadium long before the final whistle.
The news that Oviedo had been taken straight to hospital prompted chants of sympathy and solidarity from the Everton fans, but the Costa Rican's injury apart, a day that had begun well for Everton with confirmation of the loan signing of striker Lacina Traoré from Monaco until the end the season ended equally pleasingly when Magaye Gueye made it four with a left-footed shot.