Leon Osman
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LEON OSMAN believes Everton’s failure to overcome defensively-minded visitors to Goodison this season has cost them dearly.
The Blues midfielder admits his team-mates have struggled when the onus has been placed on them to break down sides primarily set up to avoid defeat.
Wednesday’s 1-1 stalemate with Birmingham City was the Toffees’ sixth home draw of the season, and the 29-year-old says they must figure out how to beat teams that ‘park the bus’ against them.
He said: “Teams have come here and basically camped in front of goal, it’s been a new obstacle for us to try and manoeuvre this year.
“Teams are literally coming and trying to park the bus and it’s up to us to break them down.
“On occasions we’ve managed to do that, like against Sunderland, but on other occasions we’ve been frustrated.
“We’ve had a number of draws we thought we’d possibly win but it’s difficult when teams come and play for the draw.”
Osman stressed his frustration at the injury to Mikel Arteta, yesterday confirmed as a grade two hamstring tear, which in similar cases has sidelined players for between three and four weeks.
Arteta pulled up with a hamstring injury and Osman said: “It was disappointing. He was our captain and he was just beginning to find his feet form wise.
“He played really well in the last game and it was really disappointing to lose him so early.
“But we’re a team here and a squad, we have players here to take his place and I thought Seamus (Coleman) came on and did really well.”
Meanwhile, John Heitinga said he was satisfied with his goalscoring contribution against the Midlanders, and confirmed he has not given up on the Blues qualifying for Europe.
The Dutchman has waited 59 games to score for Everton, and his well-taken effort cancelled out Jean Beausejour’s 18th minute header.
He said: “It was not a bad goal, I am happy with the goal and I’m happy that it was the equaliser for the team.
“Overall we were the better team, but we didn’t create many chances so 1-1 was a fair score.
“I wanted to score in the far corner, I didn’t hit the ball too hard and I was lucky that the ball went in the top corner and the defender couldn’t head it away.”
Everton moved up to ninth in the Premier League table but missed the chance to cut the gap on Liverpool in sixth to three points.
“After the game we were all disappointed,” Heitinga added.
“But going to have a good go for Europe.”
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