Derby Day Blues as Everton lose

IN a derby day which should have ended in
tales of an excellent and rugged Everton performance, highlighted by a
superb piece of pressure to force Sammi Hyypia to smash into his own
net, it is instead punctuated by the tale of four penalties.

Four
penalties that is, of which only two were actually given, and which
decided the game beyond any doubt and saw the Blues reduced to 9 men
for the second time in three years at Goodison against Liverpool.

After
early pressure, the Blues re-organised their midfield to cope with
Steven Gerrard's new free role in the Liverpool side and started to
take control. Leon Osman found his form and was running the Liverpool
defence ragged with sublime touches and endless effort.

Yakubu
even found himself tracking back and running himself into the ground,
and was unlucky not to benefit from a wonderful ball into the box which
he tried to overhead kick but missed by the smallest of margins.

Then
the breakthrough came. Mikel Arteta's hard work paid off, Alan Stubbs
lifted a ball into the Liverpool box and Joleon Lescott headed down.
Hyypia took a wild swing at the ball and blasted into his own net off
the post. Everton were in control.

After the second half things
changed, and Steven Gerrard will more than likely be widely praised for
his actions in the world's media for salvaging his side's day and
"winning" a penalty.

Running stride for stride with Tony Hibbert
towards the Everton box, Gerrard grabbed Hibbert's shirt and let go as
Hibbert returned the favour. Then, as he saw the edge of the box pass
below him, Gerrard through his right foot underneath Hibbert which
brought them both tumbling to the ground. Mark Clatternberg was sold,
and pointed to the spot.

As if that wasn't enough, Gerrard then
pleaded for Hibbert to be sent off. Clattenberg, not wanting to anger
the England captain, duly obliged. Dirk Kuyt scored the resulting
penalty.

Down to 10 men, Everton carried on pressuring, Anichebe
and Yakubu continuing the pressure, while Lescott persevered down the
left looking like a different man from that which showed himself for
England in Moscow.

On another break-away, Tim Howard made a
great save, and Phil Neville showed just as safe hands on the line to
earn himself a red card and Dirk Kuyt the chance to win the game for
Liverpool. Tim Howard got a hand to it, but the game ended shortly
afterwards - but not before some more controversy.

Just after
Gerrard's trip, Steve Finnan wrapped his arms all around Joleon Lescott
to stop him from scoring in the Liverpool box - yet play was waved on.
And in the last minute, Lescott was this time dragged to the floor by
Jamie Carragher and denied a goal. Again, play was waved on and the
final whistle blown.

A brave fight from Everton in a game which
they will be right to feel cheated out of three points. Liverpool
offered nothing other than break-away football, but then, these small
clubs do come to Goodison and shut up shop, hoping to hit us on the
break.

From NSNO.co.uk