EVERTON 1 CITY 3
FA Premier League
31st October 1992
attendance 20,242
scorers
City Sheron(12 & 62), White(19)
Everton I Brightwell(68 og)
Ref J Worrall
City Coton, I Brightwell, Phelan, McMahon, Curle, Hill, White, Sheron, Quinn, Simpson, Holden – sub Reid(56), Flitcroft(87), Margetson(unused)
Everton Southall, Jackson, Ablett, Kenny, Watson, Keown, Warzycha, Barlow, Rideout, Horne, Beagrie – subs Preki(60), Hinchcliffe(unused), Kearton(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MICHAEL WALKER WRITING IN THE OBSERVER 1ST NOVEMBER 1992
Before this match these sides had amassed between them a paltry 25 goals in 26 Premier League outings. There were enough chances here yesterday to make it another 25. In the end only four counted.
It was no surprise that they were all scored by Manchester City players. Everton’s impotent strike force have managed only three League goals at Goodison Park all season. At this rate they would have trouble finding the brothel.
Yesterday Howard Kendall had Stuart Barlow up front alongside Paul Rideout. It was at the expense of Tony Cottee, who was dropped after criticizing his manager in the morning paper. It was only Barlow’s fifth appearance but, unfortunately for him, it was one to forget.
He had enough opportunities on his own to win this game but missed chance after chance. Yet despite this he still had the pluck to take a 70th minute penalty after he had been brought down by Curle. He hit the post.
Not that city can be smug about goal-scoring, but they will be mightily relieved to have got Wednesday’s dismal exit from the League Cup out of their system.
They took the lead after only 12 minutes. With the home crowd already groaning their disapproval, Hill slid a pass to White running free down the right, as he was allowed to do all afternoon. His hard low cross was met sweetly on the volley by Sheron and it was soon past Southall.
Southall was seen picking the ball out of his net for the second time. City broke from an Everton corner and Holden found White again, galloping in acres of space, this time on the left. He paused at the edge of the area before thumping a fierce shot past Southall. The shots had Peter Reid off the bench, it was this big winger’s first goal since early September. The City fans taunted Kendall with: ‘Judas, Judas. What’s the score?’
No doubt he would have kissed any of his players had they been able to score, and he must have watched aghast as Barlow shot straight at Coton from eight yards out.
The blond striker wasted another opportunity before half-time when put through by Rideout. He had some company, though, as Sheron first failed to get on to another White cross and then missed an open goal after Southall had done a Grobbelaar. But after the break Sheron showed everyone what he’s capable of when he coolly chipped over Southall after Phelan had sprinted down the left and crossed accurately.
To a man, Everton were displaying the ineptness of a Cabinet minister and it was fitting that their score should come from an own goal, Ian Brightwell heading Barlow’s cross into his own net. At last Barlow had something to show for his unstinting efforts.
But he will still look back on his fifth game and wince. Peter Reid will look back and smile. It was his 500th appearance and he still chug chugging along.