Derby v Everton big match preview (Pride Park, Sunday, KO 2pm)

Oct 28 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES saw everything that is presently right and wrong with his team neatly encapsulated inside 90 minutes on Thursday night.

As they strode purposefully towards an encouraging 3-1 UEFA Cup success against Greek outfit Larissa, there were times when Everton’s impressive forward play appeared effortless, the likes of Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman combining with devastating effect.

The problem for Moyes, however, is that it has too often been similarly easy for his team’s own defence to be breached this season.

Such a failing was apparent again in midweek when Joleon Lescott’s uncharacteristic momentary relapse gave Larissa hope and scuppered hopes of a rare clean sheet.

Having recorded 15 shut-outs during the last campaign, Everton have managed to prevent the opposition from scoring just twice in 14 games this time around.

It’s the reason for their slide into the bottom half of the table after losing four of their last five Premier League games, a run the Goodison outfit will hope to check when they travel to struggling Derby County this afternoon.

And Arteta admits: “We need to start winning in the league. We want to be up near the top and playing much better.

“Last year we had a lot of clean sheets and we need to start keeping clean sheets if we are going to have a chance of winning games; we are not going to score three or four goals all the time. We can’t give these easy goals away.

“It will be very hard against Derby. They have been preparing all week while we have had a game; they are in trouble and will want to get out of the position they are in, so it is going to be hard going there. They will be aggressive but we want to go to win.”

Thursday’s performance was the ideal response by Everton to their controversial derby defeat to Liverpool last Saturday.

With both Tim Cahill and Thomas Gravesen returning to the first-team fray, Moyes now has the scope to juggle his resources for the visit to Pride Park.

“It was a very good result both in terms of the performance and for confidence,” Arteta adds. “We played some good stuff at times and scored three goals, so we can be positive going into the next game. We have got Tim back, Tommy back – it’s looking good. Tim is such an important player; I have a really good relationship with him and I know how hard it has been for him with so many injuries. He deserved the goal. We now have got a lot of options around the team.”

Cahill’s goal was his first in 362 days and came on his first senior appearance since breaking a metatarsal at Sheffield United in March, an injury the Australian subsequently aggravated during the home friendly against Werder Bremen in July.

Cahill was substituted midway through the second half to a rousing reception from the home fans, and he says: “I’m just so delighted I got through everything fine. When the number was held up for me to come off, I had to a double take as it’s been that long I’d forgot what shirt I wear. I was totally oblivious because I was enjoying myself so much.

“I’m a bit sore but that’s to be expected. I was just so shocked that I started. There was a bit of pressure as you try to live up to what you have done previously. But every time you put the Blue jersey on, you just want to go out there and play well.”

Today’s game will hold a special significance for Lee Carsley. The Republic of Ireland midfielder began his career at Derby, making 166 appearances and scoring five goals before travelling a path that has taken him to Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and most recently Everton in February 2002.

The 33-year-old won promotion with the Rams in 1996 and is delighted to see them back in the top flight under manager Billy Davies.

“I think they have done okay,” says Carsley, who will be hopeful of keeping the starting role he regained for the midweek win over Larissa.

Your first season back in the Premier League is always tough. I was at Derby a long time and I hold them in great esteem. They are a fantastic club and I hope that they do well. When we came up, our first season back was in the Baseball Ground and it was looking a bit wrecked at the time. I’m sure teams were coming to us and wondering what to expect. We were a very physical team.

“Jim Smith had got us very organised and we were basically just smashing in to teams when we got them at the Baseball Ground. We kept nicking points here and there and we did quite well. We carried that on to Pride Park.

“Obviously things changed around a bit then. We brought a couple of Italian lads and we had Igor Stimac and a couple of other Croatians. We changed the way we played. Paulo Wanchope came on to the scene and he did fantastically.”

Carsley had departed Pride Park when Derby were last relegated in 2002, and he adds: “They have had to perhaps have a go at the Premier League this time with one eye on the Championship in case it doesn’t go so well for them. If they go down this time, they are not going to be in the same boat as they were a few years ago.

“I’m sure a lot of clubs will go down that road too. But they are going to be a tough team to play against at home. When you come back up, it is crucial that you win your home games. When you go away, you’re just trying to get a point wherever you can.”