A hapless Everton slumped to their first away defeat in 9 outings after being defeated at the Britannia Stadium today.
Two goals either side of half time were enough for the Potters. The first a wonderful goal after some fantastic work by Matthew Etherington down the wing, beating Phil Neville with ease and clipping the ball in for Kenwyne Jones to rise typically high and head the ball in with an equal measure of power and accuracy. The second with more than just a hint of good fortune, as Phil Jagielka inadvertently shinned the ball into his own net under pressure from the physical challenge of Ricardo Fuller.
Potters delight: Kenwyne Jones celebrates his opener for Stoke as the following Evertonians look on despondently.
It was an all to familiar story for David Moyes' Toffees who had good spells of possession but failed to convert any of the few chances they did create. Rarely threatened at the back, neat and tidy passing and comfortable with time on the ball, Everton were the better side but didn't make it count.
David Moyes bemoaned his side's lack of goals earlier in the week and stated that he would look to "do something" in the January transfer window. On this basis he will have to do more than that, more something quite special to rejuvenate a lifeless attack that has just 3 goals between them this Premier League season- with preferred lone striker Louis Saha having failed to hit the net at all this season. It was he who also felt the wrath of the angered Evertonians as his not-so-well-received applaudings to them were greeted with disgust.
David Moyes and Saha himself felt aggrieved when Everton were denied what looked a certain penalty in the opening minute after the Frenchman was caught in the midrift by Ryan Shawcross's foot.
It was arguably Everton's most inspiring player and leading goalscorer so far this season, Tim Cahill, who passed up their best opportunity of the game with an uncharacteristically wayward header when well placed at the back post in the 25th minute.
The Aussie is set to depart for the Asia Cup and the Stoke fans joked "Where's your Ashes gone?"- probably the least of his worries at this point as he cut a figure of complete desolation at his failure to equalise.
The final chance of the half fell to Steven Pienaar who did what all others in blue seemed scared of doing and shot when just inside the area, however his effort was blocked by Danny Higginbotham and looped onto the roof of the net.
After the break it was more of the same- with a lesser quality however- as Everton pushed and pushed for an equaliser but were met by a resolute Stoke defence who did their job in shutting out the Toffees, aiding them to finish off the game in the 69th minute as Jagielka scored the 7th own goal of his professional career.
Tough times: Cahill and Jagielka endured torrid games at the Britannia.
There will be alarm bells ringing over the form of Everton's Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard a far cry from the player that Everton have relied so heavily upon for creativity in the past.
The travelling contingent did however thank Leighton Baines and Sylvain Distin for their efforts at the end of the game, both receiving rapturous applause for their impressive performances. Baines is looking increasingly like a player who is Everton's only viable attacking option. His crossing ability is like no other in the blues' line-up and his surging runs are matched only by Seamus Coleman, who continues to impress yet is constantly left isolated by the offensively devoid Phil Neville.
Finally, there will be question marks over the future of Yakubu after the burly Nigerian failed to make to bench as he continues to be linked with a move to Avram Grant's struggling West Ham.
Article written by Sam Mackie on the 1st January 2011
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