|
|
Played
January 7, 2012 10:00 AM EST
Goodison Park — Liverpool
Referee: R. Madley
Attendance: 27564
January 7, 2012 10:00 AM EST
Goodison Park — Liverpool
Referee: R. Madley
Attendance: 27564
Top of the Match
John Heitinga
Everton
Everton
John Heitinga
Everton
Everton
Flop of the Match
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Everton
Everton
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Everton
Everton
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Everton 2-0 Tamworth: Early John Heitinga strike and Leighton Baines penalty ensure home side progresses to FA Cup Fourth Round
The visitors toiled against the Conference National opponent and only killed any threat of a shock with a second half penalty won by substitute Royston Drenthe.
By David Lynch at Goodison Park
Getty Images
Everton was made to work hard for its place in the FA Cup fourth round as the club edged out Tamworth with a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.
The home side took an early lead through Johnny Heitinga's header but it was to be far from a walk in the park from that point onwards.
The Toffees struggled to assert their dominance until a Leighton Baines penalty late on ended all hopes of a shock.
Everton manager David Moyes made six changes to the starting lineup which was so poor in defeat to Bolton. Injured stars Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and Jack Rodwell failed even to make the squad as youngsters Victor Anichebe, Seamus Coleman and Magaye Gueye made rare starts.
Fringe players James McFadden and Bilyaletdinov also joined the starting squad as Marouane Fellaini returned in the center of the park.
For the visitors, young goalkeeper Joe Collister surprisingly continued in place of the more experienced Jonathon Hedge while Nick McKoy, signed in midweek from Northampton Town, made his first start.
As would be expected, Tamworth went about its task with admirable vigor from the first whistle. The team harried hard to try and break the Toffees’ rhythm and even went close through Scott Barrow’s free kick, which flew wide of Tim Howard’s post.
However, the hard running was to count for little as Heitinga gave his side the lead after just five minutes. Landon Donovan swung in a corner from the left side which deceived Lambs ‘keeper Collister and left the Dutchman with the easy task of nodding in from close range.
The goal settled the home side down and it continued to threaten with Anichebe only just failing to get a shot away after good work on the left.
Heitinga, clearly buoyed by his goal, then tried an ambitious effort from range, which was deflected out for yet another corner which Sylvain Distin subsequently headed wide.
The visiting side was clearly struggling to clear its lines against its more illustrious host, and a fine passing move almost saw James McFadden slide home with the outside of his left boot after Bilyaletdinov’s back heel in the box.
Kyle Patterson, a former LA Galaxy colleague of Donovan, then served to remind the Toffees of the dangerous nature of the scoreline and the topsy-turvy nature of cup ties as his fine run resulted in him just driving wide.
The 25-year-old had looked Tamworth’s most threatening outlet, and proved it once again as he stung Howard’s palms from range with a well-hit drive.
That shot signified a change in fortune for the Lambs as they looked more comfortable in repelling the Toffees and kept possession well in the opposition half.
A succession of corners kept Everton on its toes and the team were relieved to see an offside flag raised as Iyseden Christie beat Howard in the air and saw his header cleared off the line with Tamworth attackers queuing up to finish.
That meant the visiting side left the field for halftime trailing but with plenty of encouragement that it could make a mark in the second.
Both teams were unchanged after the break and the half started in much the same fashion as the first had ended.
Everton misplaced passes with alarming regularity as Tamworth ran hard and the work almost paid dearly for it 10 minutes into the second half.
Patterson was at the heart of things once again capitalizing on a loose pass, however, he then released Barrow who was tentative in possession and, after a poor cross, failed to get a shot away in time.
David Moyes then received a further blow as Coleman, so often plagued by injuries, limped off to be replaced by Leighton Baines.
Opposite number Marcus Law also looked to his bench, for inspiration rather than injury cover, as the chances of a shock equalizer grew with every minute that Everton failed to stamp its authority.
Striker Keiron St Aimie was the man chosen to replace the hard-working Christie and he almost made an instant impression, driving a volley agonizingly wide in the box just minutes after his introduction.
That proved enough for Moyes to make an unenforced change with the ineffective McFadden being replaced by winger Royston Drenthe.
The Dutchman found himself with an opportunity to threaten at the edge of the box after being on the pitch just a minute but slipped to the delight of the Tamworth fans.
However, the visiting side was beginning to tire and allowed Bilyaletdinov through to let off a fine strike from distance which Collister did well to save.
The club's resistance was then all but ended as Drenthe, who had looked busy since his introduction, was hauled down desperately in the box by Sam Habergham, who had up until that point had a fine game.
Substitute Leighton Baines stepped up to send Collister the wrong way much to the relief of the Toffees’ fans who may well have feared a late equalizer.
The match died as a contest after that goal and Everton dominated from then on, with Donovan almost adding a late shine to the score has his strike from 20 yards hit the angle of bar and post.
However, the scoreline was to prove sufficient to see Everton through and see Tamworth fans go home happy with their side's brave performance.
The home side took an early lead through Johnny Heitinga's header but it was to be far from a walk in the park from that point onwards.
The Toffees struggled to assert their dominance until a Leighton Baines penalty late on ended all hopes of a shock.
Everton manager David Moyes made six changes to the starting lineup which was so poor in defeat to Bolton. Injured stars Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and Jack Rodwell failed even to make the squad as youngsters Victor Anichebe, Seamus Coleman and Magaye Gueye made rare starts.
Fringe players James McFadden and Bilyaletdinov also joined the starting squad as Marouane Fellaini returned in the center of the park.
For the visitors, young goalkeeper Joe Collister surprisingly continued in place of the more experienced Jonathon Hedge while Nick McKoy, signed in midweek from Northampton Town, made his first start.
As would be expected, Tamworth went about its task with admirable vigor from the first whistle. The team harried hard to try and break the Toffees’ rhythm and even went close through Scott Barrow’s free kick, which flew wide of Tim Howard’s post.
However, the hard running was to count for little as Heitinga gave his side the lead after just five minutes. Landon Donovan swung in a corner from the left side which deceived Lambs ‘keeper Collister and left the Dutchman with the easy task of nodding in from close range.
The goal settled the home side down and it continued to threaten with Anichebe only just failing to get a shot away after good work on the left.
Heitinga, clearly buoyed by his goal, then tried an ambitious effort from range, which was deflected out for yet another corner which Sylvain Distin subsequently headed wide.
The visiting side was clearly struggling to clear its lines against its more illustrious host, and a fine passing move almost saw James McFadden slide home with the outside of his left boot after Bilyaletdinov’s back heel in the box.
Kyle Patterson, a former LA Galaxy colleague of Donovan, then served to remind the Toffees of the dangerous nature of the scoreline and the topsy-turvy nature of cup ties as his fine run resulted in him just driving wide.
The 25-year-old had looked Tamworth’s most threatening outlet, and proved it once again as he stung Howard’s palms from range with a well-hit drive.
That shot signified a change in fortune for the Lambs as they looked more comfortable in repelling the Toffees and kept possession well in the opposition half.
A succession of corners kept Everton on its toes and the team were relieved to see an offside flag raised as Iyseden Christie beat Howard in the air and saw his header cleared off the line with Tamworth attackers queuing up to finish.
That meant the visiting side left the field for halftime trailing but with plenty of encouragement that it could make a mark in the second.
Both teams were unchanged after the break and the half started in much the same fashion as the first had ended.
Everton misplaced passes with alarming regularity as Tamworth ran hard and the work almost paid dearly for it 10 minutes into the second half.
Patterson was at the heart of things once again capitalizing on a loose pass, however, he then released Barrow who was tentative in possession and, after a poor cross, failed to get a shot away in time.
David Moyes then received a further blow as Coleman, so often plagued by injuries, limped off to be replaced by Leighton Baines.
Opposite number Marcus Law also looked to his bench, for inspiration rather than injury cover, as the chances of a shock equalizer grew with every minute that Everton failed to stamp its authority.
Striker Keiron St Aimie was the man chosen to replace the hard-working Christie and he almost made an instant impression, driving a volley agonizingly wide in the box just minutes after his introduction.
That proved enough for Moyes to make an unenforced change with the ineffective McFadden being replaced by winger Royston Drenthe.
The Dutchman found himself with an opportunity to threaten at the edge of the box after being on the pitch just a minute but slipped to the delight of the Tamworth fans.
However, the visiting side was beginning to tire and allowed Bilyaletdinov through to let off a fine strike from distance which Collister did well to save.
The club's resistance was then all but ended as Drenthe, who had looked busy since his introduction, was hauled down desperately in the box by Sam Habergham, who had up until that point had a fine game.
Substitute Leighton Baines stepped up to send Collister the wrong way much to the relief of the Toffees’ fans who may well have feared a late equalizer.
The match died as a contest after that goal and Everton dominated from then on, with Donovan almost adding a late shine to the score has his strike from 20 yards hit the angle of bar and post.
However, the scoreline was to prove sufficient to see Everton through and see Tamworth fans go home happy with their side's brave performance.
Follow Goal.com on 
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's 
page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
to get the latest soccer news directly. Check out Goal.com's page; be part of the best soccer fan community in the world!
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Jermaine Beckford
Striker Leicester City |
6 | 0 |
|
Darius Henderson
Striker Millwall XI |
4 | 1 |
|
Juan Mata
Striker Chelsea |
4 | 1 |
|
Andy Carroll
Striker Liverpool |
4 | 0 |
|
Ramires
Midfielder Chelsea |
4 | 0 |