Source: Daily_Mail
Everton 1 Stoke 1: Toffees caught in Euro trap by defiant Potters
David Moyes' commendable philosophy of sticking to his strongest line-up in Europe backfired as travel-weary Everton ran out of steam and ideas at Goodison. [LNB]While other Barclays Premier League managers choose to rest players for their Europa League commitments, Moyes took the view that he and his team had worked all season to test themselves against continental opposition and should make the most of it. [LNB]Logic was surely on his side, but he may have to reconsider after Everton returned from Minsk in the early hours of Friday and failed to produce the spark that has served them so well. [LNB] Nice one, son: Leon Osman is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring Everton's equaliser[LNB]It is a difficult balancing act, faced with a squad as thin asEverton's, but Moyes argues there seems little point striving forEuropa League involvement, only then to treat it as an unwantedinconvenience. [LNB]The Everton boss might have been less troubled by it had TimCahill's radar near goal not malfunctioned. Failing to convert asix-yard headed chance seldom happens once in a game, let alone twice,yet two inviting crosses were steered straight into Stoke keeper ThomasSorensen's arms by the normally clinical Everton midfielder. [LNB] Heads up: Robert Huth scores Stoke's equaliser at Goodison Park[LNB] [LNB]A curling 55th-minute equaliser from stand-in skipper Leon Osman rescued a point after Robert Huth had headed Stokein front five minutes earlier and Moyes said: 'There may have been anelement of fatigue, but if you want to be successful in thesecompetitions, you have to put out the best team you can. [LNB]MATCH FACTS EVERTON (4-5-1): Howard 6; Hibbert 7, Heitinga 6, Distin 7, Baines 6; Osman 7 (Yakubu 76min), Rodwell 6, Fellaini 6, Cahill 6, Bilyaletdinov 6 (Jo 76); Saha 6.Booked: Fellaini.[LNB]STOKE (4-4-2): Sorensen 7; Huth 7, Shawcross 6, Faye 6, Collins 6; Delap 6, Whitehead 6, Diao 5 (Whelan 77),Etherington 6; Fuller 6 (Kitson 90), Beattie 5.Booked: Fuller, Diao, Shawcross.[LNB]Referee: Andre Marriner.Man of the match: Thomas Sorensen[LNB]'It was difficult for us, but that is only to be expected against a Stoke side who never make it easy for you. [LNB]'Leon deserved a lot of credit for the way he kept going and tookhis goal. Our crowd can be unforgiving and he was off target with anearlier long-range effort, so to trust his ability to hit the targetspoke volumes for his courage.' [LNB]Osman could count himself unlucky not to open the scoring in the38th minute after twisting and turning on the edge of the area andhitting a snap-shot that Sorensen did brilliantly to turn over afterseeing it late. [LNB] Delight: Huth celebrates his opener for Stoke[LNB] [LNB]Everton are renowned as set-piece specialists but were given a tasteof their own medicine in the 50th minute, Huth nipping in front ofCahill to plant a header past Tim Howard from Matthew Etherington'scorner. [LNB] Parity was soon restored as Osman latched on to a John Heitinga passand bent a left-foot shot carefully beyond Sorensen and in off the bar.[LNB]In the 72nd minute, Louis Saha's left-wing cross was met by atrademark Cahill leap, but the Minsk match-winner's header was graspedgratefully by Sorensen when it would usually have been dispatched intoa corner of the goal. [LNB] Everton 1 Stoke 1: All the action as it happenedDES KELLY: Celebrate the moment but don't push the boat out too farEVERTON FC
