ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Everton 2 Wigan 1: IF SET-PIECE proficiency alone determined Premier League placings, Everton would be Champions League material. Instead the Merseysiders' limitations from open play meant David Moyes' side were extremely fortunate to collect their first points of the season courtesy of Leighton Baines's stoppage-time penalty.
It had taken a Baines corner headed home by Louis Saha for the home team to draw level against a vulnerable, initially unambitious, Wigan. If Moyes is to fulfil his aspirations at Goodison he badly needs to infuse Everton with creativity.
The club yesterday moved closer to signing the Atletico Madrid defender, Johnny Heitinga, after the clubs agreed a €5.7 million fee, although personal terms remain to be resolved. “The chairman and the staff are working really hard to bring people in by Tuesday but there’s no guarantee that will happen,” said Moyes.
Wigan’s manager, Roberto Martinez, was left downcast at his side’s failure to hold their lead, particularly after Paul Scharner’s opener was followed by Jordi Gomez striking a post and the substitute Scott Sinclair spurning a decent opening.
“I’m really disappointed,” said Martinez. “For the first 20 minutes Everton’s aerial threat meant we couldn’t get into the game but we changed it round a bit after that and looked dangerous. We had chances to kill the game.”
When Martinez changed his single-striker formation and, instead, moved lone striker Hugo Rodallega to the left, switched Charles N’Zogbia to the right, and introduced Jason Scotland as the focus of a three-man attack, his bravery paid dividends.
Mario Melchiot slipped the ball to N’Zogbia and his cross was met by Scharner who stooped to head home at the far post.
When the improving Jordi Gomez directed a shot against a post, the gloom enveloping Goodison was as brooding as the rain clouds overhead.
But Everton remain adept at those set-pieces and Saha was on hand to head home Baines’s corner, leaving the impressive Titus Bramble and largely unconvincing Emerson Boyce to debate what had gone wrong.
With Marouane Fellaini finally on, Everton threatened from a barrage of dead balls but they produced just one memorable passing move involving Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman and Tim Cahill which concluded with Saha blasting over.
It all ended happily enough when Boyce’s trip on Jo prompted Baines’s match-winning penalty. But Moyes will not be fooled.
Guardian Service
