Everton v Middlesborough Preview by Mike Norman

Premier League / Mike Norman / 28 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

If there is to be a winner, then I fancy Everton just to edge it

I still bare the scars of my one and only visit to Goodison Park, when Everton put on a footballing master class to thrash Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, back in 1995. Donning my Santa hat and my new Boro shirt, worn over Grandma's knitted jumper to brave the cold, I was anticipating a comfortable win for the Teesside club, a result that would have put them 2nd in the Premier League if other results went their way.

Unfortunately, Joe Royle's Toffee Men ran out impressive 4-0 winners, and but for the heroics of the Boro goalkeeper, it could easily have been six or seven. That result saw Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough embark on an eight match losing sequence, and they would eventually finish 12th in the Premier League that season. Will Boro help me exorcise my demons this Sunday, or will I still be haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past?

David Moyes is now in his 6th full season at the helm of what he describes as "The People's Club", and despite failing to bring any silverware to Goodison Park, he appears to have the full backing of the board and the supporters. However, slightly worrying is the fact that they have just recorded back to back league defeats without scoring a goal, with influential midfielders Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta still sidelined through injury. They grabbed a much needed win against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek, though for much of the game they looked very ordinary.

Boro's injury situation seems far worse, with summer signings Mido, Tuncay and Aliadiere either confirmed as, or expected to be absent at the weekend. Midfielder Julio Arca is out for two months, while experienced defenders Emanuel Pogatetz and Robert Huth are still a long way from being fit. Of much concern to Gareth Southgate will be the club's recent form, with two away defeats to West Ham and Spurs (without scoring) sandwiching a below par draw at home to North East rivals Sunderland.

In all honesty, this looks on paper a very uninspiring contest between two below par teams, though I would urge anyone who can to go along to the game to do so in support of Ladies Day, which is an excellent innovation by Everton, now in its 2nd year, to raise the awareness of Breast Cancer. Regarding Ladies Day, it's quite a relief that Arca is injured and Fabio Rochemback has had his locks chopped, such as their love affair, along with Jonathan Woodgate, for wearing an Alice band on the field - whatever happened to a good old fashioned crew cut and looking like men?

From a betting perspective, their has to be some value about the game ending in a 0-0 draw, which can currently be backed at an appealing 11.5. Although any striking combination from James McFadden, Yakubu and Andy Johnson has the potential to score goals, it's debatable whether the midfield can create enough chances for them to profit. It also has to be said that Johnson has now gone 16 games in all competitions without netting. Boro have failed to score in their last 3 league visits to Goodison, and with the striker crisis they have at the moment, an Everton clean sheet looks a maximum wager to me at 2.42.

If there is to be a winner, then I fancy Everton just to edge it, with no doubt Yakubu being the man to get the goal, such is the habit of former players scoring against their former clubs. A 1-0 correct score for the home team is currently trading at 7.2. An interesting market for this match could well be the 'sending off' market, and although the current trading price of 4 seems to be on the short side, it's quite possible that a red card will be shown in this game. Boro have the worst disciplinary record in the league so far, and if Everton do pin them back for long periods, I am sure a few meaty tackles could well be the order of the day.

So have a few flutters and sit back and enjoy the match live on Sky Sport on Sunday afternoon. Don't expect too much excitement however, in fact, if you like your horror stories, then just watch those pale faces of the Boro fans as Yakubu haunts his former club - while spare a thought for me, hiding behind the settee every time the Nigerian gets the ball, sweaty palms, heart thumping - all in all, a typical 90 minutes watching my beloved Boro, only this time, I won't be wearing my Santa hat.