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Match
Summery
David Moyes rung the changes after
Wednesday's débâcle against Manchester City, with five players
being rotated due to injury, and the ravages of flu that
have been sweeping through the Everton camp.
David Unsworth returned from a cruel four-match suspension,
with Watson presumably injured, and Pistone allegedly being
"saved" prior to an imminent transfer out...
Gemmill and Carsley started in midfield (with Alexandersson,
Li Tie, Pembridge and McLeod all on the bench); Radzinski
and Rooney started together with Campbell out injured; and
Peter Clarke, back for a couple of months from his loan
spell at Blackpool, finally got a game in the first-team
defence, filling in for the injured Yobo.
Shrewsbury captain Jemson was the first to take a pot-shot
at goal, but well wide and they soon had a corner that Wright
was forced to punch away. Everton pressed in return,
and Radzinski went close with his first shot of the game.
But the Shrews were back with a free kick that forced Wright
into an excellent "wold-class"save.
Pressure form Shrewsbury continued, with Woan shooting wide
but Everton responded with a good break, Radzinski's shot
being saved, then Carsley got around the keeper but contrived
to shoot over as the game got going with both sides attacking.
As the first half developed, it became clear that the Shrews
were, not surprisingly, going to have a real go at Everton,
with Richard Wright having to make a number of key saves.
But Everton were not completely overrun, managing a number
of good breaks of their own, although palpably unable to
make the final ball count.
Gravesen then gave away a silly free-kick, fouling someone
on the edge of the box and it was Jemson who fired in a
superb free kick, curling it around the wall. Richard
Wright got his fingertips to it but it was not enough to
prevent the Shrews from drawing first blood, and taking
in a vital half-time lead.
Obviously livid with Gravesen, David Moyes dragged him off
at half-time and put Alexandersson in his place.
Shrewsbury then claimed a penalty for what was elsewhere
described as a blatant dive. Nothing given by the
ref.
Naysmith then played a key role in getting the ball to Gemmill
who played in Alexandersson and the much-maligned Swede
finished with a superbly taken shot, under the goalie and
in off the post.
Steve Dunn, however, was doing his best to give everything
to Shrewsbury, awarding another threatening free-kick to
the home side, which Jemson fired just wide of Richard Wright's
post. Despite this, Shrewsbury were starting to tire
after throwing everything at Everton.
Alexandersson nearly scored again, with his shot going right
across the face of the goal and missing the far post.
Radzinski then burst through and tried to set up Li Tie,
who had just come on for Gemmill, but the Chinaman could
not connect with what would have been a sitter.
Wright then saved again, and Rooney got in the action at
the other end, firing just over as the game seemed destined
to go to a lucrative replay at Goodison Park for the plucky
Shrews.
But, with a minute of regular time to go, it was fairy-tale
time for the Shrews and utter humiliation for high-flying
Everton. Another free kick in a dangerous position
and Jemson yet again became the hero as Woan fired in another
superb free-kick into a crowd of players scrambling in the
Everton box. It was Jemson who got his head to it,
nodding it past Richard Wright in the 90th minute.
Just 2 minutes of added time were left and Everton were
well and truly undone.
Li Tie was away into the Shrewsbury area and crudely dragged
down, but Steve Dunn was never going to give Everton a penalty,
no matter how blatant the foul.
So, Shrewsbury, seventh from bottom in the Third Division,
beat Everton, fifth in the Premiership. Another great
upset to add to the romantic history of football's greatest
competition.
Match Preview
The romance of the FA Cup. A soggy Third Division
quagmire of a pitch, and a team bumbling along near the
foot of the Third Division... managed by an all-time Everton
hero, Kevin Ratcliffe — the youngest captain to lift the
FA Cup. What more could you ask for? How about
the fact that David Moyes also played for Shrewsbury Town
at one time?
This Third Round tie therefore has all the vital ingredients,
and all the potential for an upset of mammoth proportions
if David Moyes fails to drag the team out of the collective
torpor that hung over them on New Year's Day...
Wayne Rooney may get one more chance to strut his stuff
before his enforced lay-off, now extended to four matches.
David Unsworth will probably return as he may well have
been part of the equation that has been missing for the
last four games in which Everton have looked a pale shadow
of the confident Premiership assailants who sailed up the
league table on the back of six wins in a row.
On paper, of course, the gulf in class is massive.
But this is the FA Cup; there are no foregone conclusions,
that's why they actually play the games rather than merely
going by the form book. It's football: anything is
possible. |
David Moyes: No stranger to Gay Medow
| Shrewsbury |
1 |
| Everton |
1 |
| Draws |
0 |
| Shrewsbury |
0 |
| Everton |
0 |
| Draws |
0 |
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Shrewsbury
0-3 Everton
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Other Match
Reports
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ToffeWeb
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BlueKipper
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Player Ratings
Wright (6) Did his job reasonably well. May have
done better for the first goal.
Clark (4) Played out of position but looked totally
out of his depth I'm sad to say.
Unsworth (4) Not the Unsworth that started the
season so well. Passing was poor and he let the Shrewsbury
winger have too much time.
Weir (6) Average Performance.
Stubbs (6) Did okay though his passing was poor
at times.
Carsely (5) Created nothing for us all day.
Gemmil (5) Best of a bad bunch of midfielders.
At least he knows how to pass on the ground and alway
look for the ball.
Naysmith (5) Didn't create enough; looked too lightweight
Graveson (4) Atrocious
Rooney (7) Tried to create something but it just
didn't happen for him. Some good touches though.
Radzinski (6) Ran his socks off and should have
scored. Poorly serviced but needs to run at defenders
more, especially 3rd division standard defenders!
Alexanderson (6) Didn't track back or fight for
the ball but looked dangerous on it. Well taken goal.
Li Tie (5) Should have scored.
McLeod-Came on too late to warrant a rating.
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a Blue, always a Blue. It's in the blood!"
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BlueCafe 2003
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stfitzsimmons |
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Fixtures
Spurs (Home) 2-2
S'land (Away) 1-0
B'ham (Home) 1-1
Man City (Away) 1-3
Saints (Away) 0-1
M'brough (Home) 2-1
Villa (Away) 2-3
Fulham (Home)2-0
W'ham (Away) 3-0
Man Unt (Away) 0-3
Arsenal (Home) 2-1
W Ham (Away) 1-0
Leeds (Away) 1-0
N'castle (Away) 3-3*
Charlton (Home) 1-0
B'burn (Away) 1-0
WBA (Home) 1-0
N'castle (Away)
Chelsea (Away)
Chelsea (Home)
B'burn (Home)
Kopites (Away) 0-0
B'ham (Away)
Bolton (Home)
Man City (Home)
S'bury (Away) 1-2
Spurs (Away)
S'land (Home)
Bolton (Away)
Leeds (Home)
Charlton (Away)
Saints (Home)
M'brough (Away)
W Ham (Home)
Arsenal (Away)
N'castle (Home)
WBA (Away)
Kopites (Home)
Chelsea (Away)
Villa (Home)
Fulham (Away)
Man Unt (Home)
*Blues win on pens
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Last
Match - Shrewsbury 2 - 1 Everton