Everton 1-0 Stoke City: Sunday Mirror match report
Published 21:15 30/10/10 By Derick Allsop
Everton required something out of the ordinary to break Stoke’s resilience and that is precisely what they got.
It came in the shape of Yakubu’s first goal for more than six months and sustained Everton’s aspirations of challenging the Premier League’s established order.
Yakubu’s lack of conviction had characterised much of Everton’s offensive play and the anxiety coursing through the stands reflected the collective struggle.
Yet the burly striker’s instincts returned as Tim Cahill’s shot came back off the foot of a post and he gleefully thumped in an unstoppable winner.
Stoke had their moments, especially in a second half considerably more active than the first. Tuncay had the ball in the Everton net only to be penalised for a push and Ryan Shawcross will be pained for some time by his glaring miss.
But the home side, driven by their inspirational captain Phil Neville and the subtle skills of Mikel Arteta, gradually pieced together their game to force down the red and white barrier.
Everton boss David Moyes said: “Stoke are an improving side, we’ve seen that, so it’s a great three points for us. It was great for Yakubu to get that goal and it was probably a Yakubu sort of goal. It will be great for us if we get back the old Yakubu.
“You need somebody to do something to win you a game, like the Rooneys and Drogbas, and we probably needed Yak to do that. He worked hard and if you do that, the fans and your team-mates will appreciate it.”
Stoke boss Tony Pulis blamed his defenders for allowing Yakubu in for the goal, but felt more aggrieved with referee Lee Probert for disallowing what would have been an opening goal.
Pulis said: “I’m really disappointed with the disallowed goal. It looks like a poor decision against us. It was an even game and if you get an opportunity you have to take it – Everton did that.”
Yakubu ought to have made more of an earlier chance. He had an unhindered run on goal only to shoot tamely straight at Asmir Begovic.
Steven Pienaar managed to generate more power from outside the area, but again Begovic was able to field with little trouble.
Arteta then played an exquisite through ball into the path of Neville. His skipper, alas, failed to capitalise.
With Rory Delap on the bench, Stoke had to rely on set-piece deliveries to test Everton’s resistance and when Matthew Etherington’s corner found its way to Abdoulaye Faye, the defender thrashed the ball woefully off target.
After the break, Everton went close through Seamus Coleman but Stoke countered with a threat of their own, Marc Wilson spoiling his clever approach play with a wayward shot.
Shawcross squandered an opportunity minutes later to the frustration of the animated Pulis on the touchline. Arteta went close with an effort that was deflected wide before Tuncay bundled the ball into the net. In the process, he also sent Leighton Baines sprawling and the referee blew for a foul.
Cahill’s drive was blocked at the other end and he must have thought the gods were conspiring against him when he hit the post.
But Yakubu gathered in the rebound and beat Begovic with a blast high into the net at his near post.
Etherington nearly snatched a late equaliser for Stoke, but it was Yakubu’s day.
