Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 1 Birmingham City 1: Beausejour lifts Blues out of the drop zone
[LNB] There is a check list of essentials every referee should go through before taking to the field, as Peter Walton discovered to his cost at Goodison Park last night.[LNB]Walton's preparation was found to be less than meticulous midway through the first half, when 19-year-old midfielder Jordon Mutch's enthusiasm got the better of him and he committed a foul that was deemed worthy of a booking.[LNB]It was as Walton reached for his pocket that his faux pas came to light. He had forgotten his cards.[LNB] Which colour is that, ref? Peter Walton is forced to show an imaginary yellow[LNB]The red-faced Northampton official fished around in an empty top pocket for a moment or two before wagging an admonishing finger at the Birmingham youngster and waving him away.[LNB]Just 24 hours after Swiss referee Massimo Busacca caused uproar over his use of both cards, to dismiss Arsenal's Robin Van Persie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, Walton caused widespread bemusement over his inability to use either.[LNB]The fourth official came to Walton's rescue, appearing by the touchline and handing him the missing items during a break in play in the 40th minute, and it later transpired Mutch's transgression had, indeed, earned him a caution.[LNB] Rocket man: Everton's John Heitinga scores the equaliser[LNB]While Walton's inexplicable lapse may have been a cause of mirth, there was little for Everton manager David Moyes to smile about after his side failed to build on Saturday's impressive win at Newcastle and skipper Mikel Arteta picked up a hamstring injury that could keep him out for the rest of the season.[LNB]The Everton midfielder was sprinting down the left flank in only the seventh minute when he pulled up suddenly, clutching the back of his right thigh and signalling to the bench that he was in trouble.[LNB]Such was the seriousness of his injury that, even with the aid of two helpers, it took him the best part of two minutes to complete a pain-filled trek across the pitch to the players' tunnel.[LNB] No chance: Ben Foster and Lee Bowyer can't keep out John Heitinga's strike[LNB]There were a few muted boos at the final whistle, but Moyes was more concerned about Arteta's prospects of playing again this season.[LNB]He said: 'We don't know the extent of the damage yet, but it is a hamstring and it has to be a worry. It's too early to say - I'm not surebut I'm guessing he will be out for a few weeks.'[LNB]If the sight of their inspirational playmaker being helped off in obvious distress was enough to reduce Goodison to stunned silence, the sombre mood was hardly helped by television shots of him sitting alongside Tim Cahill, with crutches at his side, in the directors' box during the second half.[LNB] Lift off: Jean Beausejour heads home for Birmingham City[LNB]It was a measure of Birmingham's stout resistance that clear-cut chances, in the second period in particular, were kept to a minimum, as Alex McLeish's side clung on for a point that lifted them out of the bottom three. 'I think it would be fairly apt to describe that as a battling point,' said McLeish.'[LNB]'We started very brightly, but losing David Bentley to a groin problem upset things a bit. I just thought the players showed tremendous resilience to stick at it like that and make sure we came away with a point.'[LNB]Birmingham had lost Bentley at the same time as Arteta's withdrawal when they went ahead in the 17th minute, as Jean Beausejour rose above Tony Hibbert to plant a header past Tim Howard, from Mutch's cross for only his second Barclays Premier League goal.[LNB] Agony: Everton's Mikel Arteta pulls up with an injury[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTS Everton (4-4-2): Howard 6; Hibbert 6, Jagielka 7, Distin 6, Baines 7; Osman 7, Arteta 6 (Coleman 9, 7), Heitinga 7 (Bilyaletdinov 87), Rodwell 6; Saha 6,Beckford 6 (Anichebe 78). Subs not used: Mucha, Mustafi, Duffy, Baxter. Booked: Heitinga.[LNB]Birmingham (4-5-1): Foster 7; Carr 6, Johnson 8, Jiranek 6, Ridgewell 6; Bentley 6 (Murphy 9, 6), Larsson 7, Mutch 7, Bowyer 6, Beausejour 7;Jerome 6 (Zigic 73, 6). Subs not used: Doyle, Phillips, Martins, Parnaby, Davies.Booked: Ridgewell, Murphy, Mutch.[LNB]Man of the match: Roger Johnson.[LNB]Referee: Peter Walton 5. [LNB]It was to be Birmingham's only real scoring opportunity, as Everton gradually wrested control from them.[LNB]Jermaine Beckford and Leon Osman both tested Ben Foster with crisp, rising drives, and Everton were level in the 35th minute, as John Heitinga finally registered his first Everton goal in his 59th match for the club. Osman's corner cleared every attempt to get a head on it and struck Cameron Jerome on the shin before rolling out to the lurking Heitinga, just outside the area.[LNB]Keeping his head down and taking careful aim, the former Atletico Madrid midfielder unleashed a first-time drive that just squeezed through the space between Lee Bowyer's forehead on the line and the bar.[LNB]Substitute Seamus Coleman, a livewire as usual on the right flank, met a Leighton Baines cross with a header that Foster clutched low to his left just before half-time. That should have been the signal for a rousing second half and a resounding win.[LNB]Instead, signs of distinct promise came to nothing. Everton's season in a nutshell.[LNB][LNB][LNB] There's Euro hope, yet! Moyes urges Everton players into final league push Manager McLeish admits to fear of fatigue as Birmingham battle to stay in the Premier LeagueAll the latest Birmingham news, features and opinionAll the latest Everton news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Lee Bowyer, Leon Osman, David Bentley, Alex McLeish, Robin Van Persie, David Moyes, Tim Cahill, Ben Foster, Roger Johnson Places: Birmingham, Barcelona, Newcastle
