Everton 2 v 1 Wigan Athletic
Saturday 11th August 2007
Wigan Athletic opened up this season's Premiership campaign at a sun drenched Goodison Park just minutes after new boys Sunderland went to the Premiership summit following their home win against Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton boss, David Moyes decided to leave his summer recruits, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienarr on the bench on the bench, whilst former Latics Leighton Baines was injured. In contract Latics boss, Chris Hutchings handed Premiership debuts to Mario Melchiot, Titus Bramble and Jason Koumas. Andreas Granqvist also made his first Premiership start under Hutchings, whilst Antoine Sibierski was on the bench.
The Toffee's started the game at full throttle with Mikel Arteta beginning to start what he was to do for most of the game, which was, run the show. And it was Arteta who created the first opening of the game in the sixth minute but his clever through ball was blasted over the bar by Leon Osman. Just a couple of minutes later Andy Johnson saw his shot go wide of the post as Latics just could not get into the game.
The central pairing of Granqvist and Bramble were being given the run around by a very lively Toffee's forward line, whilst all Latics had to show for their efforts in the first twenty five minutes of the game was a long range effort from Denny Landzaat.
In the 26th minute disaster struck for Latics when Granqvist faikled to get his head to a ball whipped into the box by Tony Hibbert. That wasn't a problem suffered by the alert Osman who looped the ball over the stranded Chris Kirkland in the Latics goal. On the half hour mark Bramble was lucky not to concede a penalty after a challenge on Arteta who was also giving Jason Koumas a torrid time in the middle of the park as well.
As the minutes started to tick away to the break the Latics faithful were fearing the worst and it came as a relief when the whistle blew for half time with Latics just suffering a one goal deficit. Such was Everton's dominance that a rasping 30 yard drive from Heskey, had it flown into the net with Tim Howard beaten, it would have been an injustice.
Both teams started the second period unchanged and finally Latics decided that it was time to take the game to Everton and began to show some attacking flair and Caleb Folan was was eventually crowded out by the Everyton defence as he ran at goal and Koumas delivered a beautiful corner kick onto Paul Scharner's head, but the ball went over the bar with Howard beaten.
On the hour mark Koumas unleashed a fearsome long range effort that went just inches over the bar. The Goodison crowd were finally being silenced as they sensed that Latics were finally starting to dominate proceedings.
In the 66th minute former Newcastle United star, Sibierski, was handed his Latics Premiership debut when he entered the field of play for the tiring Folan. Moyes decided to change things tactically on the 73rd minute and he gave a debut to new signing Pienarr with foal scorer Osman making way for him. For all Latics' attacking flair they still looked a bit dodgy at the back and they were punished when Everton seized on the problem when Victor Anichebe put the hosts 2-0 ahead with just fifteen minutes of the game remaining. Once again Granqvist was found wanting as Andy Johnson skipped past him to thread the ball to Anichebe who scored despite Brambles brave bid to clear the ball off the line.
However, if the Toffees thought that the game was won, they were forced into a rethink when debut boy Sibierski latched on to a nice through ball from Scharner and he gleefully slammed the ball past Howard. Alan Stubbs wasn't impressed as just a minute later he roughly challenged the Frenchman who thankfully, just picked himslef up, possibly sparing Stubbs from the referee, Mark Clattenburg's notebook.
To their credit, after conceding, Everton decided to play safe, passing the ball among themselves in their own half in preference to going for the killer third goal, that could possibly have left them exposed. Despite the best efforts of the Latics faithful to encourage their side the Toffee's were holding firm, and in truth possibly just deserved to take the three points that were on offer.
EVERTON, Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, (Steve Pienarr 73), Mikel Arteta, Andy Johnson, Victor Anichebe. Subs not used, John Ruddy, Phil Jagielka, Andy Van Der Meyde, Nuno Valente.
Goalscorer, Leon Osman 26 mins, Victor Anichebe 75 mins
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, Caleb Folan, (Antoine Sibierski 66). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall, Josip Skoko, Julius Aghahowa.
Goal scorers, Antoine Sibierski 80 mins
Referee, Mark Clattenburg (Co Durham)
Attendance, 39,220
Wigan Athletic opened up this season's Premiership campaign at a sun drenched Goodison Park just minutes after new boys Sunderland went to the Premiership summit following their home win against Tottenham Hotspur.
Everton boss, David Moyes decided to leave his summer recruits, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienarr on the bench on the bench, whilst former Latics Leighton Baines was injured. In contract Latics boss, Chris Hutchings handed Premiership debuts to Mario Melchiot, Titus Bramble and Jason Koumas. Andreas Granqvist also made his first Premiership start under Hutchings, whilst Antoine Sibierski was on the bench.
The Toffee's started the game at full throttle with Mikel Arteta beginning to start what he was to do for most of the game, which was, run the show. And it was Arteta who created the first opening of the game in the sixth minute but his clever through ball was blasted over the bar by Leon Osman. Just a couple of minutes later Andy Johnson saw his shot go wide of the post as Latics just could not get into the game.
The central pairing of Granqvist and Bramble were being given the run around by a very lively Toffee's forward line, whilst all Latics had to show for their efforts in the first twenty five minutes of the game was a long range effort from Denny Landzaat.
In the 26th minute disaster struck for Latics when Granqvist faikled to get his head to a ball whipped into the box by Tony Hibbert. That wasn't a problem suffered by the alert Osman who looped the ball over the stranded Chris Kirkland in the Latics goal. On the half hour mark Bramble was lucky not to concede a penalty after a challenge on Arteta who was also giving Jason Koumas a torrid time in the middle of the park as well.
As the minutes started to tick away to the break the Latics faithful were fearing the worst and it came as a relief when the whistle blew for half time with Latics just suffering a one goal deficit. Such was Everton's dominance that a rasping 30 yard drive from Heskey, had it flown into the net with Tim Howard beaten, it would have been an injustice.
Both teams started the second period unchanged and finally Latics decided that it was time to take the game to Everton and began to show some attacking flair and Caleb Folan was was eventually crowded out by the Everyton defence as he ran at goal and Koumas delivered a beautiful corner kick onto Paul Scharner's head, but the ball went over the bar with Howard beaten.
On the hour mark Koumas unleashed a fearsome long range effort that went just inches over the bar. The Goodison crowd were finally being silenced as they sensed that Latics were finally starting to dominate proceedings.
In the 66th minute former Newcastle United star, Sibierski, was handed his Latics Premiership debut when he entered the field of play for the tiring Folan. Moyes decided to change things tactically on the 73rd minute and he gave a debut to new signing Pienarr with foal scorer Osman making way for him. For all Latics' attacking flair they still looked a bit dodgy at the back and they were punished when Everton seized on the problem when Victor Anichebe put the hosts 2-0 ahead with just fifteen minutes of the game remaining. Once again Granqvist was found wanting as Andy Johnson skipped past him to thread the ball to Anichebe who scored despite Brambles brave bid to clear the ball off the line.
However, if the Toffees thought that the game was won, they were forced into a rethink when debut boy Sibierski latched on to a nice through ball from Scharner and he gleefully slammed the ball past Howard. Alan Stubbs wasn't impressed as just a minute later he roughly challenged the Frenchman who thankfully, just picked himslef up, possibly sparing Stubbs from the referee, Mark Clattenburg's notebook.
To their credit, after conceding, Everton decided to play safe, passing the ball among themselves in their own half in preference to going for the killer third goal, that could possibly have left them exposed. Despite the best efforts of the Latics faithful to encourage their side the Toffee's were holding firm, and in truth possibly just deserved to take the three points that were on offer.
EVERTON, Tim Howard, Tony Hibbert, Joseph Yobo, Alan Stubbs, Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman, (Steve Pienarr 73), Mikel Arteta, Andy Johnson, Victor Anichebe. Subs not used, John Ruddy, Phil Jagielka, Andy Van Der Meyde, Nuno Valente.
Goalscorer, Leon Osman 26 mins, Victor Anichebe 75 mins
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Chris Kirkland, Mario Melchiot, Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Kevin Kilbane, Luis Antonio Valencia, Paul Scharner, Denny Landzaat, Jason Koumas, Emile Heskey, Caleb Folan, (Antoine Sibierski 66). Subs not used, Mike Pollitt, Fitz Hall, Josip Skoko, Julius Aghahowa.
Goal scorers, Antoine Sibierski 80 mins
Referee, Mark Clattenburg (Co Durham)
Attendance, 39,220
Labels: Everton vrs Wigan
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