Everton - WBA

Everton continue with annoying results in Premier. They’re without win in last four (three draws), have just two home wins of seven and sitting on very low for them 14th place. However, their performances look much better than results and I’m sure it’s a matter of time when they’ll start with the climbing on the table. The biggest problem recently is the lack of attacking support for Tim Cahill (scored five goals in his last eight games). Arteta and Pienaar work fine delivering from midfield, but Everton miss efficiency of the strikers. This should be a nice chance for Saha, Beckford and recovered Anichebe to recover the old shape. Moyes will miss only Fellaini who serves the last game of his suspension.

The Baggies are in free fall recently and currently I can’t see anything that could stop it. Four defeats and a draw in last five encounters caused they slipped from the 4th place (if my memory is right) to more expected 16th. They’ve kept only one clean sheet so far allowing at least two goals in four of their five previous games. Considering team quality, they’re probably worst in Premier (alongside Blackpool). First season syndrome and probably great motivation skills by Di Matteo caused an excellent run of results. Now WBA will hardly find something to boost their morale and they’ll face a hard fight for avoiding relegation. Their key man, Chris Brunt, is probably out with a groin problem. Morrison and Reid are also doubts for the game.

Despite Everton’s latest results, they should be superior here and this is a very nice opportunity for the start of a good run. Goodison is always a tough place to go. Home win for me.

Bet: Everton -1ah
Odd: 2.00 Bet365
Stake: 7/10

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need a drink

Man City 0 - 2 Everton

Everton dented Manchester City's hopes of a Champions League place with a fully deserved win at Eastlands.
Tim Cahill scored a trademark header after a neat build-up between Mikel Arteta and Leighton Baines, who provided the cross. 
City raised the tempo in the second half but after finding no way through, Arteta slotted home a fine second after a superb run from Jack Rodwell. 
In the final stages both managers were sent to the stands as tempers frayed. 
City boss Roberto Mancini raced to retrieve the ball, clattering into his opposite number David Moyes, sparking a melee on the sidelines and prompting referee Peter Walton to dismiss them both. 
And after delivering Mancini his first defeat as City boss back in January, Moyes once more masterminded a fine victory for his side. 
The Toffees, who have won their last two visits to the City of Manchester Stadium without conceding a goal, were again good for their win here and in the process ended City's unbeaten record at home this season.
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WBA - Coventry 1-0

1-0 S. Reid  22.min

decent profit

Everton 2-0 Bolton

The simplest of Mikel Arteta free-kicks and a late Steven Pienaar strike handed Everton a seventh successive home league win as 10-man Bolton crumbled.
Bolton's Kevin Davies came closest in an uneventful first half but Tim Howard bravely saved after a flowing move. 
The game turned with the 70th-minute dismissal of Gretar Rafn Steinsson, who bundled over Yakubu as the last man. 
Arteta looped the resulting free-kick home and Leon Osman hit the post before Pienaar's powerful, decisive second. 
With both teams in good form, neither manager saw fit to make changes to their starting line-up, but Everton boss David Moyes soon found his hand forced.
Everton manager David Moyes:
"We had the best of the play and we controlled most of the ball in the first half without being able to create in the final third. 
"We needed a good Tim Howard save in the first half but we needed to be patient and we got our reward in the end. 
"It was a great pass by Steven Pienaar to get Yakubu away - scoring the goal as well was a double whammy for Bolton, and it was a great free-kick. 
"In the last few games, Mikel Arteta has been getting back to his best. He's nursing a couple of minor strains but he's so keen to keep going." 
Bolton manager Owen Coyle:
"Yakubu took a great touch across Gretar Rafn Steinsson and invited Steinsson to come onto him. If there's a collision there's not a lot of contact, but Mr Wiley deemed it a red card. 
"To rub salt into the wound, because I believe it was a contentious decision, Mikel Arteta was allowed to take the free-kick four yards closer than he should have been. 
"I don't agree with the decision and with then allowing Arteta to bring the ball forward to the arc, with the quality he's got. 
"We carried on the fight, accepting that Everton had chances, but I'm disappointed to leave with nothing. I felt we offered an awful lot to the game."
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Sunderland 3 - 1 Birmingham

Sunderland claimed their second win in three games with a hard-fought victory over a spirited Birmingham.
The Black Cats were ahead as early as the fifth minute courtesy of a neat finish from Darren Bent from six yards. 
The England striker made it 2-0 just six minutes later, finishing well after being fed in by Steed Malbranque. 
Birmingham rallied well and on the hour Cameron Jerome ran clear to pull a goal back, but late on Fraizer Campbell's sliding finish sealed the home victory. 
Having finally claimed their first win of 2010 with a 4-0 thrashing of Bolton on 9 March, Sunderland have, by the admission of manager Steve Bruce, begun to play with a greater freedom and style than at any other time during his tenure. 
One of the chief individual beneficiaries of this has been striker Bent, who has recaptured his goalscoring touch in spectacular fashion to reinvigorate Sunderland's season and boost his chances of making Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup this summer.
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Everton - Benfica

Everton have noticed a run of six competitive games without a win (3 draws and 3 defeats). Main reason for that and for underachieving so far (only 3 wins from 10 games in Premier and 13^th place) is injury list where in one moment nine regular players appeared. Moyes still has a lots of problems with injured players, but beside Arteta (has repeated his knee injury and will be absent for a while) situation becomes better. The biggest problem lately, defense line should be decent with Hibbert, Yobo, Distin and Baines. In first game, Toffees got not a slap, but fist in the face (0-5). Moyes tried to rest some players, push some youngsters on the big scene and suffered pure humiliation. Louis Saha is in doubt, while John Heitinga and Lucas Neill are both ineligible. Everton have a great record in Europe at Goodison and have netted in all 10 of their European games at Goodison under David Moyes.

 

Benfica have decent squad and their performances so far look respectable. Strong midfield with Pablo Aimar as a playmaker, new Man.Utd. transfer target Ángel Di María on the wing and Saviola and Nuno Gomes in front scored 33 goals on last 10 games. But, the obvious is they’re not the same side on away games. For the weekend lost vs. Sporting Braga 0-2, in Europa League lost in Greece vs. AEK 0-1, before that in qualification were defeated from unknown Ukrainian side Vorskla 1-2. In fact they haven’t won in last seven European games on the road.  Manager Jorge Jesus will make some changes to first eleven. In front the goal will be Brazilian Júlio César who plays only in Europe, while mentioned Aimar should start the game from the bench.

 

Dignity is hurt and Everton seek revenge. No room for resting the players and I believe the best eleven will play (maybe without unfit Saha). Win tonight would boost team morale and game like this is necessary for getting back on track. Benfica won’t surrender, but would be absolutely satisfied with a draw. Little problem is bookies also got the latest team info and odds have decreased in past few hours. However, still worth of a bet. So, 1 dnb.

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Wednesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Out-of-favour Liverpool defender Andrea Dossena is set to join Italian side Napoli on loan in the January transfer window, with a view to a permanent deal.(The Sun) 
Manchester City have joined Manchester United in showing an interest in teenage Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell but are unlikely to launch a bid until next summer. (Daily Mail)   
Portsmouth are battling Birmingham and Ipswich to sign Benfica defender Miguel Vitor in January. (Daily Mirror) 
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has joined Real Madrid and Everton in the chase for Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson - and could start the bidding war with a £3m offer.(The Sun) 
Fulham hope to sign Roma's former Liverpool defender John Arne Riise for £3m in January to team him up with his younger brother, midfielder Bjorn Helga, who is already at Craven Cottage.(Daily Express) 
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish will return to his former club Rangers to sign £3m-rated midfielder Steven Davis and striker Kris Boyd, who could be available for £1m. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn are willing to sell striker Benni McCarthy in January but will not allow him to join any of their relegation rivals in the Premier League or move anywhere on a loan deal. (The Sun) 
West Brom's Slovenian international Robert Koren says he could leave the Hawthorns in January unless he is restored to his favoured central midfield role.(The Sun) 
Birmingham, Fulham and Celtic are heading the chase for Koren if he does leave the Baggies.(Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Liverpool and England winger John Barnes, who was sacked by Tranmere Rovers in October after only four months in charge, is close to being appointed the new national boss of Rwanda. (Daily Mirror) 
West Ham may have to pay former manager Alan Curbishley £4m after he won his case for constructive dismissal over his departure from Upton Park in September 2008.(The Sun) 
Curbishley will land a £2.2m pay-off from West Ham, who could be forced to sell players in January to afford the pay out. (Daily Express)
The Hammers will have to pay Curbishley a year's salary - a basic of about £1m - plus legal costs running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. (Daily Telegraph) 
West Ham initially tried to sue Curbishley for £2m, claiming he had left them in the lurch by resigning and was in breach of his contract.(The Independent) 
Hull City are lining up Curbishley as a replacement for under-fire boss Phil Brown, who could be sacked if the Tigers lose at home to Stoke on Sunday. (Daily Mirror) 
New Hull chairman Adam Pearson has reassured fans that the Tigers will not be forced to sell their best players to reduce their £40m wage bill.(The Times) 
Arsenal fans fear for the future of their club after Stan Kroenke increased his stakeholding in the Gunners. (The Times) 
Kroenke has no immediate plans to try to seize control of the Arsenal boardroom with a full takeover bid. (The Independent) 
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was "devastated" when Xabi Alonso left Liverpool and admits the Reds have missed the Spaniard. (Four Four Two) 
Notts County's director of Football Sven-Goran Eriksson claims Sol Campbell quit the club midway through a training session when he decided to leave the Magpies in September.(The Sun) 
Norwegian champions Rosenborg want former Manchester United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as their manager. Solskjaer is currently reserve team boss at Old Trafford. (Daily Mail) 
Oldham-born Hearts winger Andy Driver has admitted his agent has held talks with Scotland boss George Burley about changing his international allegiance from Scotland to England.(Daily Record)
Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has had another setback in his recovery from a cruciate knee injury and could remain sidelined until the new year. (Various) 
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill is unhappy that clubs can only appeal against yellow cards in cases of mistaken identity and has urged the League Managers' Association to campaign for a change in the rules. (The Guardian) 
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier will be offered the chance to become Saudia Arabia's director of football, overseeing their national side and top club teams, while ex-Anfield chief executive Rick Parry is wanted to run the administrative side of the Saudi game. (Daily Mirror) 
West Ham's Welsh midfielder Jack Collison, 21, is poised to begin talks over a bumper new five-year contract - only a year after signing his last deal with the Hammers. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias hopes a new jumbo TV screen at St James' Park will placate Magpies fans angry over the club's plans to sell the naming rights to the stadium. Any sponsorship of the ground will include @StJames'Park in its official title. (The Sun) 

David Beckham's wife Victoria has bought the England midfielder a pair of micro pigs for Christmas, and the on-loan AC Milan star wants to call them Pinky and Perky. (Daily Mirror)

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