Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC 1, Birmingham City 1: full time report
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov 300[LNB]EVERTON ended Birmingham's five-match winning streak after outplaying the visitors at Goodison Park in a 1-1 draw.[LNB]Diniyar Bilyaletdinov's sixth-minute goal was all the hosts had to show for their early dominance and they were caught cold when Sebastian Larsson equalised with Birmingham's first shot of the match midway through the first half.[LNB]Everton continued to control the game after the interval but never really threatened to add a second.[LNB]Not only did the result end Birmingham's excellent run of results, it also extended Everton's sequence to just one victory in 11 league matches.[LNB]And David Moyes' side have not won at home since they beat Blackburn 3-0 on September 20.[LNB]The atmosphere inside Goodison at kick-off was as cool as the strong, chilly wind blowing off the Irish Sea, but that soon changed in the fifth minute.[LNB]Tony Hibbert's throw was cleverly chested into the path of Bilyaletdinov by Louis Saha and the Russian cut inside on his left foot to beat Joe Hart at his near post with a 12-yard drive.[LNB]Saha had the ball in the net moments later from Tim Cahill's reverse pass but was flagged offside, although television replays showed the Frenchman had timed his run to perfection.[LNB]Cahill was next to leave Hart clawing at thin air as his left-footed drive went narrowly over after a quick Everton counter-attack.[LNB]Everton were totally dominant in the opening 20 minutes and when Steven Pienaar and Hibbert cut Birmingham open down the right Leon Osman, starting his first league match since October 17, had his shot blocked by Roger Johnson.[LNB]However, they failed to make their chances count and the visitors equalised with their first shot in the 22nd minute.
