Goodison Park 22/12/08 Kick Off 20:00

One of the best aspects of my new job is the fact that we have an office in Penmaenmawr near Llandudno. Surprisingly enough my visits seem to coincide with Everton midweek fixtures, or maybe the odd home reserves fixture, how sad is that?

So with a complimentary ticket from my new best friend Lukas Jutkiewicz, I set off down the A55 and through the tunnel to Goodison Park. With the car safely parked in secure parking in St Domingo road, I strode purposefully past Stanley Park to reception to pick up my ticket. Now I know what you are thinking “Thank God I didn’t realize Welchy was going” It could have sent more of you into suicidal depression with my somewhat poor record at catching a blues win. For the record, games that I have watched this season including the reserves and last night’s game:

P 12 W2 D5 L5 F14 A20

Yes by any account that it is not a great record, but then it is better than for a supporter with a season ticket who has only seen us at home this season! A surprisingly mild night and wearing a heavy coat meant that after I had walked to the County, not spotted Tom (Robbo’s mate) turned on my heels, had the obligatory gravy and chips and walked back to the ground I was sweating!!!

Nothing could compare to the league cup game with Chelsea last season and thank god they were not wearing their luminescent kit. The ground was strangely subdued, probably something to do with Chelsea’s impressive away record and our poor home form and once again witnessing Neville in midfield and Tim up front on his own. Football fan that I am, you cannot but be impressed with the quality of player that Chelsea have at their disposal. They all look incredibly athletic, composed and comfortable on the ball. Chelsea stated with their passing game, keeping the ball and looking for the opening. You can see why they don’t need to batter teams and scoring opportunities are invariably limited for the opposition as they deny you the ball.

Cole fired a powerful shot at Howard after just 5 minutes which, with the way the ball swerves the U.S’s #1 did well to fend off for a corner. I could already see the script, Chelsea get the goal early then just squeeze the life out of the game and maintain their 100% away record. However this Everton team of late are nothing if not battlers and it was clear we had lots of fight in us. It was not pretty or particularly entertaining, a couple of crosses for the ever improving Fellaini, got the crowd a little more excited.

Now I have to admit at about the 30 minute mark I was getting a little bored, to the point I had text Robbo, Eddie and Walshie with the word ‘Yawn!’ I had sussed out the better quality of talent in the Main Stand and had spotted the well dressed black guys with the obligatory diamond stud in their ear in front, when Phil Dowd bless him, must have decided he was bored as well and decided that Terry’s reckless studs showing on our little Leon down on the near touchline was worthy of a straight red. Now we had a game. It is obvious that when you are a superstar on more than £100,000 a week, respect does not apply to you. The captain of England was not going to go quietly and that arsewipe Cole got involved as well as Lampard et al. By the way can anyone explain what that lovely Geordie lass is doing with that twat Cole?

The crowd sensed that this was a massive turning point and the team responded, could this be the night? I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise but Chelsea’s response was to try then to even things up by getting an Everton player sent off. Tim Cahill rose for a challenge innocuously flicked Ballack and he was down feigning that he had been elbowed by the battling Aussie. Obi Mikel (was he in star wars?) Lampard and Cole all surrounding the ref trying to get him sent off. Dowd was growing on me as he took none of the Chelsea rubbish.

The second half saw Chelsea make some notable changes, Cole was sacrificed for a defender and the ineffective Anelka was replaced by Drogba. Now I know he is a bit theatrical is Drogba, but I wish he played for us. Truth is Jagielka who must be playing the best football of his career had him in his pocket, and I enjoyed watching Jag’s total concentration. Without dominating Everton began to gain a slight advantage. Yobo who got a rousing applause left the field with what looked like a hamstring injury. This meant that Joleon reverted to centre half with Baines coming in at left back. A forced move but one that built on Lescotts good work down the left, where we seemed to be getting some joy.

Phil Dowd did his best to become an honorary Evertonian with bizarre booking when with Chelsea players bemoaning the fact the wall wasn’t 10 yards back, he marked out the 10 yards to where the Everton wall was positioned and promptly went back to book the belligerent Chelsea player. Quality!!

Everton pressed, Fellaini going so close with a little back heel that went just past the post from a great Baines low cross. Areteta’s corners seem much improved from earlier in the season and from another cross Fellaini fired a powerful header straight into the arms of the impressive Cech and Lescott had a chance that Cech again did well to get a hand to in the top corner. The crowd roared Everton onto an impressive win. Now from the right hand side the ball was fired in low and after some step over/dummies the ball was teed up for Osman to fire in, his shot saved and fumbled by Cech,Pienaar followed up GOAL!!!!. Our ecstasy was short lived as the goal was disallowed for what must have been a very marginal offside.

So the game finished 0-0 a result I would have taken before the start of the game. It was good to see our team competing at this level; we have definitely turned a corner. Fellaini is beginning to win me over, Arteta is looking more comfortable in the middle of the park, Cahill is getting more like his old self with more games under his belt and Jagielka is walking away with the player of the season even at this early stage.