Wigan 1, Everton 2 - post match analysis

Jan 21 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES went into the weekend believing Everton have the advantage in the race for fourth place.

This morning, the league table says they do.

A huge week for the Goodison Park outfit began by leapfrogging neighbours Liverpool to move into the Champions League qualification places after hard-earned victory at Wigan Athletic.

With Liverpool entertaining Aston Villa this evening, the rise may only be temporary. But that does not make it any less significant.

A ninth win in their last 13 Premier League matches landed a huge psychological blow in the race for fourth place; Liverpool have the games in hand but points in the bag are what count.

And how Everton are racking them up. Even when some way short of their best, their unshakeable self-belief – engendered by the 13-game unbeaten run compiled at the tail end of last year – ensured a 12th away win in all competitions yesterday and that a plucky display from Steve Bruce’s Latics went unrewarded.

Moyes has always contended that January and early February would be pivotal to Everton’s top-flight challenge, given the absence of Yakubu, Steven Pienaar and Joseph Yobo to the African Cup of Nations.

So far, so good. Last week’s victory against near rivals Manchester City relied much on grit and determination than any eye-catching football, and the same applied at the JJB Stadium.

Handed a fortuitous two-goal half-time advantage after a characteristic mistake by Titus Bramble gifted Andrew Johnson an opener that was added to by Joleon Lescott, the visitors dug deep to hold on after Phil Jagielka’s own goal gave Wigan encouragement shortly after the break.

The hapless Bramble had fallen victim to the quagmire of a playing surface that, sodden by the rainfall over the region in the past week, added to the entertainment value of an absorbing spectacle.

His error proved the turning point. Until then, a strangely subdued Everton had struggled to threaten against a spirited Wigan side that belied their lowly league position.

Certainly, this was by no means a memorable performance from Moyes’s side. But, as Phil Neville contended before the game, winning ugly between now and the end of the season will be crucial if their top-four place is to be retained.

Moyes admitted afterwards that the Carling Cup semi-final second leg with Chelsea was, perhaps understandably, playing on Everton minds, and the extent of their exertions will only be realised on Wednesday night.

In terms of confidence, however, Moyes’s side cannot be in greater shape.

Everton’s lengthy absentee list meant the return of Leon Osman yesterday was greatly received. The midfielder had been missing since December 15 after suffering a broken toe, but lasted the full 90 minutes of his 150th career league appearance.

While Johnson’s opener came gift-wrapped, it was deserved after a sterling shift as a lone striker. The England international, who missed last week’s win over City with a knee injury, stretched the Wigan back-line with his pace and his constant harrying meant he was in the right place to capitalise on Bramble’s blunder.

Lescott’s seventh goal of a productive campaign ultimately proved decisive, but the centre-back was more active in his own box.

This was an afternoon in which hard graft was required, and none applied themselves better than Lee Carsley, whose mopping up in midfield eased the pressure on Everton’s back four.

The eccentricities of referee Lee Probert also contributed to a surprisingly feisty encounter, the official setting the tone early on when bizarrely booking Mikel Arteta for the heinous crime of taking a free-kick too quickly.

Only goal difference is keeping Wigan ahead of Sunderland and out of the drop zone.

But the Latics have become a far tougher proposition under the stewardship of Bruce – as shown by their fighting draw at Anfield earlier this month – and this could prove a notable triumph for Everton in the final analysis.

With debutant Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia mining the flanks to keep full-backs Tony Hibbert and Nuno Valente occupied, Everton were pressed back for long periods of the first half.

However, there’s always a chance with Bramble in opposition. And so it proved.

The Wigan centre-back scored a spectacular equaliser against Liverpool, but yesterday he was back to doing what he does best – producing howlers for all but his own team to enjoy.

His moment came in the 39th minute.

A strong challenge by Arteta on Palacios sent Everton on a break down the right, but the intended pass to Johnson was over-hit to Bramble.

There seemed little danger until, 40 yards out, the Wigan man inexplicably slipped while attempting a back-pass to Chris Kirkland and Johnson was free to hare down on goal and slide the ball home between the goalkeeper’s legs.

With the home team reeling, Everton doubled their advantage three minutes later thanks to further poor defending.

A right-wing corner from Arteta wasn’t cleared and, after Phil Jagielka had slashed the ball across the face of goal, the unattended Lescott gleefully rattled in at the far post.

For all Wigan’s possession, Everton’s solid defence meant the only save of note from Tim Howard before the interval was when parrying a powerful header from former Everton striker Marcus Bent on to the underside of the crossbar.

Indeed, Kirkland made a more impressive stop to deny Arteta after Mario Melchiot’s mistake had allowed Johnson to race into the box and cut the ball back to the Spaniard.

To their credit, Wigan refused to feel sorry for themselves, and they reduced the arrears eight minutes after the break. From a deep free-kick by Jason Koumas, his first touch after coming on as substitute, Howard failed to collect under pressure from Bramble and the ball bounced in off the unfortunate Jagielka.

Bruce’s side then set about their task. Koumas was off target with a 25-yard effort, Hibbert was alert to thwart a break from the same player and Kevin Kilbane, another former Goodison Park man, clipped a shot wide.

But their impetus faded during the final quarter as Everton held firm, and the visitors were closest to scoring again when Osman hooked a volley narrowly wide.

Advantage Everton in the race for fourth. The challenge now is to stay there.