Everton work together at Wigan
SOMEWHERE in a parallel universe, Everton are second in the league. Not level on points with West Brom and trailing the European champions Chelsea by five points. Not a point behind the billionaires of Manchester City.
But ahead of Roberto Mancini’s men and tucked right in, just a point behind the league leaders.
It’s not a Royal Blue skied world where Dixie Dean is God and dreams come true.
Just one where match officials get decisions right.
After having two goals incorrectly ruled out by a lethargic linesman against Newcastle and two points subsequently dropped, the Blues saw an opposition goal incorrectly awarded at Wigan on Saturday.
With a handful of legitimate penalty claims not given, too, Everton have now seen four points lopped off their tally this season.
But they didn’t complain too long or too loud on Saturday, because there were other self inflicted wounds which can be addressed before the Blues start berating match officials.
This current Everton side is very, very good. Expansive, imaginative and creative, they are playing the best football their fans have seen for a long time.
But they’re not quite as good as they think they are – and twice now this season they have turned in first half performances which suggests some players are starting to believe their publicity.
That attitude cost Everton a Capital One Cup run at Leeds United, and on Saturday it saw them trail at half-time and have to salvage a second half rescue mission.
Wigan deserve credit for an intense tempo, with pressing and tackling which sometimes bordered on the illegal, which hustled Everton out of their stride.
But while Everton passed the ball well enough, they didn’t do anywhere near enough when Wigan had possession, which was often.
The man who looked most uncomfortable was Johnny Heitinga, given a fearful runaround by Arouna Kone.
And it was noticeable that when the more physical Sylvain Distin replaced the Dutchman at half-time, Kone’s influence instantly became negligible.
But there were others who appeared to believe a trip to Wigan offered the footballing equivalent of a golfing gimme.
It was anything but.
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