Up The Toffees

It was the most unexpected victory. The stage was all set for Aston Villa to win again and go a mesmerising 4 points behind league leaders Arsenal. This was after both Arsenal & Manchester City dropped points in a rare occasion. Villa had been the hottest team in the world; winning their last 11 straight matches at Villa Park (8 in the league); and having not lost at home in the past 15 months. Furthermore; Villa had never lost to Everton in their last 13 meetings in the league; winning 9 & drawing 4. Everton were also having a threadbare squad; with no less than 7 first-team players out; either through injury; suspension or the AFCON. Their bench only had 8 players; of which two were 'keepers and two unknown defenders in Reece Welch & Elijah Campbell.

So this made the victory all the more remarkable; on a par with that stunning 10-man upset at Man United earlier in the season. Their away form is actually better than their home form; and it's the style of David Moyes; tough & rugged away from home to squeeze out 1-0 results. Merlin Rohl had sounded the alarm after hitting the post after only 12 seconds; and it was an ominous sign of what was to come. Thierno Barry has been looking the part recently; and Everton perhaps don't need another striker now that he has come of age; scoring the winning chip and winning almost everything in the air.

For Villa; their fans looked aghast as if it couldn't quite be happening. They had expected an easy victory; but it was anything but. Morgan Rogers; the favourite for England at the coming World Cup; had one of his worst games ever; having about 8 chances but squandering them all; especially when he seemed to be skying them higher & higher. They tried to get back into the game but on this night; Everton's impressive willpower and tactical know-how proved too much to overcome.