Evertonian optimism level at the start of the month: Non existent.
Match Results
Chelsea 1 : 1 Everton
Everton 0 : 0 Wigan
Manchester City 1 : 2 Everton
West Ham 1 : 1 Everton
Chelsea 1 : 1 Everton
Following an abysmal set of results in November and dropping down the league Everton faced a challenging looking December with 3 of their 4 games away from home including trips to Chelsea and City.
For the trip to Chelsea David Moyes again bizarrely kept faith with Louis Saha and the French forward kept up his form, he did nothing what so ever before being hauled off before the hour mark.
Everton went behind when Anelka ran into Howard and Lee Probert, never one to miss a chance to give anything against Everton, happily pointed to the spot.
Drogba powered home the resulting penalty just before half time.
Everton hadn’t been playing particularly badly until then so the goal was a real blow.
It wasn’t until the 85th minute Everton managed to hit back.
A frankly superb run by Leighton Baines gliding through the Chelsea defence to set up Beckford to score his second league goal of the season.
Report Vs Chelsea
Executioner’s Verdict: Chelsea
Stats from the Chelsea game
Everton 0 : 0 Wigan
Everton had looked far, far better after Saha went off injured against Chelsea. So guess who started at home to Wigan? Louis Saha.
It was getting on towards a year since Saha had managed to do anything remotely useful like score, but bizarrely he was still guarenteed a starting place.
In this dull goalless draw Everton had 100% of possession (slight exaggeration) but could not find a goal.
Saha was taken off after an hour again, but Beckford’s only impact was to miss chances.
Any fresh hope following the late equaliser vs Chelsea was promptly crushed by the blues.
Report Vs Wigan
Moyes comments after Wigan game
Stats from the Wigan game
Manchester City 1 : 2 Everton
Big spending City did what Everton had managed all season, dominated for 90 minutes but somehow managed to clutch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Everton had two attacks of note all game, played the last 30 minutes with 10 men, and even gifted City a goal with the unfortunate Jagielka scoring an own goal, but still managed to take 3 points back home.
Tim Cahill did what he always does against City and scored a good header 3 minutes in from a Coleman delivery, before he then set up Baines to curl one in with his right foot for a change 19 minutes in.
The rest of the game was all City, and Anichebe managed to get himself sent off with two bookings within minutes. Peter Walton taking great delight at the chance to send a blue off.
Everton hung on though with our goal under siege for 70 minutes to record a massive victory (It’s worth noting that Louis Saha was benched for this game).
Report Vs City
Moyes comments after City game
Stats from the City game
West Ham 1 : 1 Everton
Having lost faith with his strikers David Moyes went with his famous 4-6-0 for this trip to Upton Park, which also included Hibbert at centre back with Jagielka out injured.
And it was a hard afternoon for Hibbert who scored an own goal to give West ham an early lead.
Seamus Coleman continuing to impress from right midfield this season scored the equaliser before half time.
Overall though this was a tame game and two more points dropped for Everton.
Report Vs West Ham
Stats from the West Ham game
An unbeaten month with 6 points from 4 games 3 of which away from home, not a terrible month by our standards to date.
Evertonian optimism level at the end of the month: Stubborn hope.
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