After Europa league lesson from Benfica, the highlight of Everton's week was Lyon equalising against Liverpool

Published 16:36 07/11/09

Firework night it may have been but the only sparklers were Benfica.

I'd like to say I'll leave it at that but you just know there's going to be more. Everton extended their winless streak to six games with a thoroughly unsurprising defeat to Benfica.

The classy Portuguese are like the biggest kid at school who just knows he can swagger about and there's nothing you can do.

Up front Cardoza and man of the match Saviola gave the Everton back four nightmares.

To be fair this continued the 'sort of okayish' form that saw Everton gain a deserved point against a fairly toothless Villa the previous weekend.

The Blues are still missing top trio Arteta, Jagielka and Piennar, the rest are filling in and doing a job but in the sort of games that really matter the absence of any genuine class is beginning to tell.

On a lighter note the Toffees (hate that nickname, it sounds like your Gran trying to sound up to date with the football) are still in with a decent chance of qualifying.

Whilst the upcoming trip to AEK Athens can surely not be easy as the home leg you would still hope this side has enough to smash the Greeks.

The real shame of the Benfica defeat is the fact that newspaper headlines cannot use some cheap bonfire pun.

A dashing four nil win could have precipitated such gems as, "Blues Rocket To Top", "Euro Tie Goes With a Bang", or had the Yak scored a hat-trick and done that ace jazz hands thing, "Ayegbeni For the Guy." A chance missed.

On Sunday the Blues take a shaky defence that has leaked 13 goals in 5 games to the happy Hammers.

Predictably West Ham beat Villa in midweek with a last gasp goal. Having looked like relegation fodder for ten games they will probably be buoyed by their recent three points.

It comes to something when Everton are grateful that Carlton Cole is doubtful for the game. To be fair to Cole he has improved dramatically and surely can't be any worse than Crouch, Bent, Owen or Agbonlahor who currently vie for an England spot.

After the Hammers game there is yet another international break, with an alleged 'showpiece' game for England against Brazil.

At this stage in the season and with the world cup months away it should have the moniker 'pointless' ahead of showpiece.

England fans and sections of the media have been predictably bullish having won the qualifying group that England will storm South Africa like a pack of gold rushers.

This fails to mention that they have only beaten a truly awful Croatian side amongst one of the softest qualifying groups in living memory.

It's probably a great coup from the FA and a chance for Beckham to earn another devalued cap but does anyone really care.

Once faced with a decent footballing side England have looked at best average and certainly at the back far from comfortable, Spain and Holland spring to mind.

They'll probably go and whoop them now.

On a completely unconnected point did you see Phil Thompson's grid on Sky Sports when Lyon equalised?

If you miss it you'll probably catch it again on a programme titled TV Gold. Everton are magic.

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