Everton 3 Bolton 1 - Full Match Report

This game fell well within the bounds of the cliché "must win", and win we did, but not without making life "interesting first".

Ferguson - Stupid sending off

If Duncan Ferguson did what the referee thought he did then he's an idiot. I haven't been able to see the incident properly but he was sent off after 20 minutes for elbowing Konstantinidis off the ball. This is not how the captain of a football team should act, no matter what level. If video evidence exonerates Ferguson then i apologize, but somehow i doubt it will.

Having lost our Captain and main striking threat Everton set about trying to get something out of a game that looked like slipping away from us with only ten men. On a level playing field we are better than Bolton, but their numerical advantage looked like it could be our undoing.

As it happened it only lasted for 10 minutes. Konstantinidis proved to be equally stupid. Either the blow from Ferguson had left him with some sort of concussion that impaired his judgment or he enjoys pissing his teammates off. Either way he managed to get himself sent off after 30 minutes for two book able offences in as many minutes, both on Radzinski.

It amazes me how players can look so surprised when red cards are show for acts like these, Konstantinidis displayed all the skill and grace of an elephant as he twice made tackles that were obviously yellow card offences.

Now the steaks were even, and Everton's superior class (no, really) began to show. Everton's first came courtesy of Pistone on 40 minutes, with a quite brilliant shot from thirty yards out. After the break the pressure continued and

Radzinski had a few chances to score.

after twelve minutes we were two up, Radzinski's deflected shot hitting the back of the net. Bolton were down but not out, Bobic had missed two good opportunities in the first half and Gardner went close before they finally pulled one back. N'Gotty scored from a Per Frandsen free kick, awarded after David Weir fouled Michael Ricketts.

Simonsen was on hand to pull of a good save from Rickets, and Everton were nervous towards the end, you'd think they would have gotten used to being ahead by now?

The manager was saved the indignity of a heart attack however, when Nick Chadwick scored his first senior goal late on. Nine point from four games. Who'd have thought.

Everton defeat today's visitors, Bolton. Review the information and discuss it on the messageboard.