Everton 2 Portsmouth 1: Those prone to mid-season panic, and presumably James Beattie as well, will be reassured this morning. They paraded the England striker prior to kick-off last night and, after successive defeats over the not-so-festive period had suggested a season on the point of unravelling, Everton have revived. Panic over.
Leon Osman's stunning last minute winner, battered in on the turn after Portsmouth had needlessly conceded possession, has eked out breathing space from fifth-placed Liverpool. Osman, a youth-team graduate, did not cost the club a penny though his goal will have reinforced the fact that Beattie has clearly joined a club on the up.
Beattie's presence was a reminder of the staggering progress Everton had made this term prior to their traumas in London last week, when Charlton and Tottenham had ensured a pointless turn of the year.
"The chairman and the manager said how much they wanted me to be a part of an Everton team that is doing really well," he said.
Alessandro Pistone, David Weir, Marcus Bent and Kevin Kilbane dropped to the Everton bench after the 5-2 defeat at Tottenham on Saturday.
Into the side came Kevin Campbell up front, with Gary Naysmith at full back. Captain Alan Stubbs returned after a back injury while Joseph Yobo continued in central defence as his partner.
Portsmouth had Dejan Stefanovic back from a calf injury, with former Everton defender David Unsworth on the bench.
The Everton nerves sweeping through the stands hardly eased by the careless surrender - within 92 seconds - of the lead gained just before the half-hour.
Aiyegbeni Yakubu wriggled beyond Joseph Yobo and held off his compatriot to lash a blistering left-footed shot beyond Richard Wright from a ridiculously narrow angle and Everton, briefly in the ascendancy, were checked.
Diomansy Kamara almost put Portsmouth ahead within seconds of the restart with a fierce, rising shot into the side-netting.
For all that Patrik Berger pummelled effectively from distance whenever granted space in which to charge, Wright dealing with the array of long-range shots somewhat unconvincingly, the sense that Everton had passed up an opportunity nagged.
Berger continued to cause Everton major problems with his long-range shooting, as Wright spilled one shot and had to dive at Yakubu's feet to block the rebound before the Czech sent another dipping drive inches over.
Everton were the slicker initially, James McFadden pulling back from the by-line early on for Kevin Campbell to have a shot blocked by Arjan de Zeeuw.
When the Evertonians traded places moments later McFadden's slapped attempt appeared to be blocked by De Zeeuw's hand, though his pained reaction persuaded the referee Peter Walton that the ball had struck another part of his anatomy.
Regardless, the home side's first corner brought tangible reward, Stubbs rising above Nigel Quashie to thump home his first goal in this arena for 11 years down and beyond Shaka Hislop.
The visitors' immediate riposte was indicative of their improved form under Velimir Zajec and Diomansy Kamara's speared shot into the side netting from distance a swift re-statement of their threat after the interval.
Wright subsequently did well to recover and thwart Yakubu after spilling Berger's latest drilled attempt.
Yet fragility reared to offer Everton hope of greater reward. McFadden skipped too easily away from Linvoy Primus and crossed for Tim Cahill, eluding Quashie, only for the Australian to head down and watch the ball loop up and over the bar.
Cahill's lob over dithering defenders should have made amends though Osman, crowded out as he entered the area, could only dribble his shot wide of the far post. Cahill and Kilbane both went close in quick succession before Thomas Gravesen forced his way into the box, his low drive palmed away by Hislop as Everton fought to clinch all three points in a now-customary late surge.
Matthew Taylor took over from Yakubu with six minutes to go to aid the rearguard action, but it was not enough to stop Osman hooking the ball home in injury time to secure victory
EVERTON: Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Naysmith, Carsley, Osman, Gravesen, Cahill, McFadden (Kilbane 74), Campbell (Bent 73). Subs Not Used: Pistone, Weir, Turner. Goals: Stubbs 29, Osman 90.
PORTSMOUTH: Hislop, Primus, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Faye (Cisse 73), Stone, Quashie, Berger, Yakubu (Taylor 85), Kamara. Subs Not Used: Unsworth, Ashdown, Mezague. Goals: Yakubu 31.
Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
