By Chris Kirwan
September 15 2002

Kevin Campbell and Paul Gerrard got the chance to answer their critics at Goodison yesterday, and neither of them wasted their opportunity.

I have long been an advocate of Campbell, but the performance of Gerrard came as a very welcome sight. He has never inspired me with confidence, and strikes me as a ‘keeper whose own self-doubt puts the whole team on tenterhooks. But it was Gerrard who kept the Blues in the game when they made an extremely sluggish start. Weir looked as if the past week had got to him, and Stubbs looked as if he had just got out of bed. We are all keen of Stubbs because he is an Evertonian playing for the club that he loves, but it is clear that he is on the downward spiral. With Yobo having caught ‘Duncan-itis’ I hope that the experience Peter Clarke is getting in the ‘Las Vegas of the North’ will stand him in good stead.

The lethargic start presented Boro with the opening goal. The effervescent Maccarone had already come close to notching up another Premiership goal inside a minute, but this time he turned provider. Maccarone was sent scuttling clear when a poor Weir clearance was seized upon, and although Gerrard did well to get a glove on his shot the ball rolled along the six yard box to give Nemeth the simplest of chances.

It didn’t look good for the Blues. Campbell was battling gallantly up front, but was never likely to get much change out of a back three of Southgate, Ehiogu, and Cooper. And Stubbs was attempting to be Lothar Matthaus at the back, but his passes were causing more danger to people in the front rows than the Middlesbrough defence. Middlesbrough were far more alert and imaginative than the Blues, and didn’t seem to be missing George Boateng.

But luck gave Everton an underserved share of the spoils at half-time. Mark Schwarzer hadn’t had a lot to do, the best Everton effort being an inswinging Pembridge corner that he had to help over the bar. However he was picking the ball out of the net on 33 minutes when Radzinski’s header rebounded off the post to leave Campbell a finish that made Nemeth’s look like a long-range effort. Campbell was a happy man, and the dissenting voices that helpfully chanted for Rooney when Campbell had previously gone down with a knock to the head changed tact.

Blues went into the break on level terms thanks to a sharp save by Gerrard from Geremi. Half-time must have produced a few harsh words, as the Blues scarcely deserved the scoreline.

The second half saw the introduction of Rooney for Alexandersson. Moyes received a touch of criticism for his failure to bring on substitutes at St Mary’s, but the introduction of Rooney changed the shape of the game. The Blues were suddenly holding onto possession, Gravesen and Li Tie became more prominent. But nonetheless it was Boro who nearly regained the lead.

Once again it was Maccarone who broke clear of the Everton defence and his shot looked for all the world as if it was set to cross the line. But the very same post that had presented Campbell with his second of the season came to Everton’s rescue, and Gerrard’s alertness prevented Boro converting the rebound.

Middlesbrough were nowhere near as dominant a force as they were in the first half and Everton started to get a hold of the game. But for all their pressure the Blues were not creating clear-cut chances, and Schwarzer was dealing with crosses and corners with the ease that you would expect from a man of his size.

The turning point of the game came in the 74th minute when Gareth Southgate was forced off with an injury. This denied Boro of their defensive organiser, and Everton took advantage 3 minute later. A Gravesen corner from the left was flicked home by Campbell in a similar manner to which he had done against Boro last season from the other side of the Park end.

The Blues kept possession well for the rest of the game, and the introduction of Carsley gave extra protection to the defence.

Everton can be very pleased by the way that they fought back in this game. After the disappointment of Southampton it would have been easy to fold, but like Everton had been unfortunate at St Mary’s, Middlesbrough were unlucky at Goodison. It was a harsh scoreline for them but they looked a tidy enough side to push for Europe this season, whereas the Blues will probably be content with mid-table.

Everton’s best performer: Paul Gerrard – A good performance by Gerrard, bar a clearance against a Boro player late on. Kept the Blues in it with some smart saves in the first half, and was alert to prevent Boro converting the rebound when Maccarone hit the post. If Richard Wright is still injured next week it would be extremely harsh to promote Simonsen ahead of Gerrard.

Most impressive opponent: Massimo Maccarone – He’s going to score a hatful of goals this season. Extremely sharp, good timing of his runs, and only the attentive Gerrard prevented him getting on the scoresheet.