Everton face Ukrainian ‘unknowns’

Sep 1 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES admits Everton will be taking a step into the unknown after they were paired with Metalist Kharkiv in yesterday’s UEFA Cup draw.

The Goodison outfit will have to overcome the Ukrainians in the first round of the competition to win through to the group stage.

Everton will entertain Metalist on Thursday, September 20, with the return leg in the Ukraine a fortnight later on October 4.

It’s one of the furthest trips Moyes’s side could have been handed in yesterday’s draw in Monaco, and the Everton manager concedes the second leg will be a “tough” experience for his team and their supporters.

“It is an interesting one,” said Moyes. “We don’t know an awful lot about them but they are third in the Ukrainian league at the moment so it is going to be a really tough game.

“Travel will be tough as will getting supporters there. We would have probably been away from home first of all but we will get a chance to play them at Goodison first and see what they are all about.

“These are the sort of ties you have to overcome and we will do our homework over the next week or two and do everything we can.

“The UEFA Cup is a very strong competition this year. It is a very difficult competition to win but what we want to do is get a good run and get some more European games back to Goodison.”

Everton chief executive Keith Wyness attended yesterday’s draw, and added: “It’s not a team we know a lot about, obviously. But the Ukraine is a well known footballing nation and we will not be taking this game lightly.

“Europe is a big learning curve but we are determined and focused on going further than our last European adventure.”

Opponents Metalist finished third in the Ukrainian domestic league last season, and their coach Miron Markevich is aware of the threat Everton possess.

“Everton are one of the top teams in England,” he said. “I have watched a couple of Everton games but I have not seen them in action this season yet. I know they play Bolton and then Manchester United, and I will be definitely looking closely at those matches.”