Everton 4-0 Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic travelled to Goodison Park to face an Everton side that was four points behind rivals Aston Villa at the start of play today. Steve Bruce's Wigan would move into seventh position if they pulled off an unlikely victory at fortress Goodison.
As might be expected, it was a controlled and disciplined start to the game by the home side. Marouane Fellaini, playing in an advanced role behind Brazilian striker Joao Alves Jo, was making a nuisance of himself early on in the contest when a high ball was floated into the box. The ball fell to Leon Osman just outside of the box and his snapshot flew over the crossbar in the eighth minute.
Wigan were happy to try and break on the home side and they engineered a smartly worked opening in the 10th minute. Nice interplay saw the ball arrive at the feet at Mido who elected to shoot from distance, it was a good effort but keeper Tim Howard saw it all the way. It would have to be something special to beat the American international from that range.
Everton responded as Tony Hibbert sent in a high cross from the right flank towards Fellaini, the Belgian international got his head to the ball and connected well but unfortunately for the Toffees' faithful it was straight at Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal.
Despite Everton's early dominance it was the Latics' that manufactured the best opportunity of the first half as Paul Scharner rose at the back post to meet a deep cross from Antonio Valencia on the right flank. The Austrian midfielder's header dropped just over the crossbar and Howard looked to be beaten, good chance for Wigan.
That being the best chance until Everton opened the scoring in the 26th minute. Fellaini flicked the ball onto Osman who in turn fed the ball into Jo in the penalty area. The Brazilian took one foot to get the ball out from under his feet and let fire with a viscous left-footed strike into the bottom right corner. A fine finish and one-nil to Everton.
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Bruce's decision to switch to a more attacking formation in the second half was almost immediately punished by Everton. Hibbert powered a low cross into the box and Fellaini smashed the ball home from a tight angle, it was a fantastic finish from the Belgian who was under pressure to boot. The goal came little more than a minute after the restart.
Everton were fully on song and they scored a third within five minutes of the second. Fellaini picked up the ball in acres of space within the penalty area, the Belgian struck a shot at the Wigan keeper that was too hot for Kirkland to handle, Jo was on hand to tap the rebound past the helpless Kirkland. Three-nil to Everton.
The nightmare continued for Kirkland, this time Osman the benefactor, in a comical reproduction of the third goal Fellaini hit the ball goal wards from range. It was an effort more in hope than expectation but Kirkland parried woefully and straight into the path of Osman,who finished the chance easily. Four-nil to Everton.
The game was over as a contest and Moyes rang the changes, hauling off Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and constant pest Fellaini, bringing on Jack Rodwell, Dan Gosling and Louis Saha. These changes did nothing to upset the rhythm of the home side, who were looking increasingly likely to add to the rout rather than Wigan stealing a consolation.
Despite the comedy of errors from Wigan in two of the goals there was a real gulf of class between the two sides. Jo had a chance to complete his hat-trick towards the end but was caught dawdling on the ball and the move broke down, it would have rounded off a perfect afternoon for David Moyes.
Although Bruce will be disappointed with the manner of the defeat his Wigan side still remain in touch with West Ham chasing the final Europa League place. Everton for their part look a class act and are unfortunate Arsenal are on such good form and don't look like relinquishing their Champions League position.
( Owen Watson / Goal )
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