GOOD things come to those who wait, goes the old saying. Goodison Park had waited all season for a moment to savour. On the final day of the Premier League campaign, they got just that.
Jermaine Beckford’s winning goal fifteen minutes from time ensured Everton finished a topsy-turvy campaign on a peak rather than a trough.
The former Leeds United striker ran the length of the field to score his tenth goal of a productive debut campaign in the top flight, and ensure David Moyes’ side improved upon their eighth-place finish last season.
That they did so whilst down to ten men, following Seamus Coleman’s dismissal early in the second half, shows the resilience and character which runs deep throughout this team.
That it seems to take adversity, and the presence of a top-drawer opponent, to bring the best from them is an issue Moyes will be doubtless eager to address during what could be a pivotal summer at the club.
Moyes will know exactly which areas of his squad require strengthening in time for next season; a lack of firepower has been the Toffees’ Achilles heel all season long, whilst quality cover is patently needed in wide areas. Whether the Scotsman is afforded, or can raise, sufficient funds to rectify these matters remains to be seen.
With Chelsea guaranteed the Premier League’s runners-up spot before a ball was kicked in the Merseyside sunshine, and with Everton virtually assured of seventh spot themselves, pride was the only trophy on the table at Goodison. The pace at which the opening 45 minutes was played suggested that avoiding injury may have been equally prominent in players’ minds.
Moyes made two changes to the side which had flopped at West Brom a week ago, with Jack Rodwell replacing the absent skipper Phil Neville in midfield, and Beckford preferred to Victor Anichebe as the lone front-man.
And with the game beginning at testimonial pace, it was Chelsea who looked the more comfortable in possession. Everton, however, looked the more likely scorers. Phil Jagielka might have done so inside seven minutes as he rose to meet a corner from Mikel Arteta, but saw his firm header clip the top of Petr Cech’s crossbar.
Soon after Coleman – who collected the club’s Young Player of the Year gong last week – failed to convert an excellent chance following a neat one-two with Beckford The Irishman was left clean through on Cech but delayed his shot too long, allowing Alex to make a scrambling recovery tackle.
And the Brazilian defender was involved again moments later as he slid in on Leon Osman as the midfielder threatened to wriggle clear in the penalty area. Replays showed the Chelsea man to have played the ball, albeit clumsily, as referee Peter Walton waved away strong Everton protests.
At the other end it was Sylvain Distin who was called upon to make a last-ditch intervention of his own, getting in the way of Nicolas Anelka’s shot after a rare flowing move from the recently-deposed Champions. But, other than a couple of speculative long-range efforts, two of which Tim Howard dealt with expertly from Anelka, the Londoners’ threat remained minimal.
Beckford, bright and busy throughout, was given a run at goal as the half drew to a close, as he latched onto Arteta’s smart pass down the inside-left channel, burst clear of Alex but sidefooted his shot horribly wide, with Osman crying out for a square ball.
But whilst the first half was a tepid affair, the second took no time at all to burst into life. Referee Walton had already cautioned Alex and Leighton Baines within the opening minutes of the second period when Coleman, already booked for a nothing challenge in the first-half, jumped in on Mikel on the edge of the penalty area.
Replays showed the Irishman to have taken a sizeable chunk of the ball, but the manner and force with which the tackle was made, coupled with the furious reaction of the Chelsea players, convinced Walton to reach for his pocket once more, and for the second week running Everton were made to play out the second half with 10 men.
