EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB - News Archive

Aston Villa 3-2 Everton

Everton fought back from two goals down at Villa Park, only to be denied by an 84th minute winner from substitute Dion Dublin. David Moyes elected for a 4-3-3 formation with Rooney, Campbell and Radzinski once again the preferred front trio. Richard Wright was restored to the goalkeeping position, but his return was blighted when he was beaten after just six minutes. Lee Hendrie curled his effort from the edge of the box over the Toffees keeper and into the net to put Villa one up.

Gareth Barry almost made it 2-0 just four minutes later when his 25 yard drive was brilliantly turned away by Wright. It was Villa who were asking the early questions and Everton’s best effort of the first half was a shot from Li Tie that flashed inches wide of Enckleman’s right hand post.

The 2nd period bubbled from start to finish. Hendrie doubled his tally when he was permitted far too much space inside the Everton area before gratefully firing past a helpless Wright.

Everton needed some sort of positive reaction…and got one. Radzinski turned on the edge of the box on 50 and cracked a super low drive into the corner of the net. Now it was the Toffees who had their tails up, with Li Tie again testing the home 'keeper from distance. The leveller came on 65 when Thomas Gravesen’s curling corner was nodded home at the near post by Campbell.

It was great, end-to-end football now, with Vassell heading wide after Stubbs had misjudged a long forward clearance, and Radzinski finding the side netting with another very good effort. The winner came 6 minutes from time when Dion Dublin hooked the ball past Wright from no more than six yards. It was a heart breaker for Everton, who continued to press right until the last whistle, but have now lost three away matches in succession.