Everton vs Middlesbrough
Match pulse
EVEAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
Who won: Everton 2-0
Everton beat Middlesbrough 2-0 on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at Goodison Park. Goals for Everton: Joleon Lescott (7') and Steven Pienaar (58').
Play by play
- 92'
FULL-TIME: Everton move up to fifth place after Boro failed to take their chances. As my old mum always said - 'you've got to take your chances Middlesbrough'. Bye.
- 90'
Arteta is withdrawn to be replaced by Lee Carsley.
- 88'
Wheater tries to glance a header towards Craddock in the Everton penalty area but doesn't get enough of a touch on it to even manage that.
- 86'
The corner is dealt with and there then follows a series of balls in and crosses all of which fail to test the Everton defence. This game is, like, SO over dude.
- 85'
Gary O'Neil makes some room for himself in the Everton penalty area but Hibbert rushes across to concede a corner as he shaped up for a shot.
- 83'
Good ball in from Young meets the head of Craddock but he is too far out to trouble Tim Howard.
- 82'
The game has died somewhat and Boro seem to be content to meekly take the beating which is surely coming their way. They are playing without any real sense of urgency which suits Everton just fine.
- 80'
Downing plays a ball in towards Riggott but Jagielka is on hand for the home side to sort it aht.
- 79'
Yobo makes a neat interception as Craddock looked on hopefully over his shoulder.
- 77'
Good firm tackle on Gary O'Neil by Jagielka in the middle of the park.
- 75'
James McFAdden comes off to be replaced with Joseph Yobo who is wearing a brightly coloured t-shirt with the words 'I am happy with the way things are right now and will not be doing much more attacking today thank you - D.Moyes' emblazoned on it.
- 72'
Boateng has a look around before picking out Wheater just inside the Everton penalty area with his pass. Wheater is unable to get any direction or power on his header though.
- 70'
Taylor takes the free-kick from thirty yards. Badly.
- 69'
Stubbs, showing his inexperience, rushes out to challenge Lee who falls over willingly to claim a free-kick. Lee is then removed from the field of play to be replced by Chris Riggott.
- 69'
Lee is caught offside and has done little to impress this afternoon. Although to be fair it does take real ability (of the 'in' variety) to miss the sort of header he did earlier on.
- 68'
Downing's cross in is headed away by Jagielka. Boro need to be making these opportunities count for more and need to start troubling Tim Howard again.
- 67'
Rochemback takes the ball easily from Everton's new arrival and begins a Boro attack which has yielded a corner.
- 64'
Stubbs battles his way out of defnce with the ball and Jagielka then attempts to release Arteta down the right. He over-hits it though and now Everton will make a change. A disappointing afternoon for Yakubu ends when he is replaced by Victor Anichebe.
- 62'
Good firm header from Luke Young to cut out a sixty yard pass from the Everton defence.
- 61'
It's Mido's last contribution of the day as he jogs - limps? - to the touchline to be replaced by Tom Craddock.
- 60'
Boro go straight on the offensive and Mido pounces on a weak defensive header from Lescott to belt a volley from thirty yards out. A fine effort but it whizzes just over.
- 57'
GOAL - Steven Pienaar slots home from eight yards out. Pienaar wins the ball back in midfield then races in to the box just in time to receive a delightful flicked pass from Arteta. He then guides the ball low inside the far post. Game over?
- 56'
Mido crosses in for Lee who has two blue shirts accompanying him and is crowded out from getting to it.
- 55'
O'Neil gets right under the ball when Downing croses for him and his attempt goes high and wide of the goal.
- 54'
Four Boro players are now in the book which may have a bearing on any substitutions Gareth Southgate decides to make.
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