Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC 1, Portsmouth 0: Greg O'Keeffe on a Blues future that is looking brighter
WHISPER it quietly, but there's a psychic steward at Goodison Park with a supernatural vision which would put Derren Brown to shame.[LNB]With Everton's final game of the season heading for stalemate against relegated Portsmouth, the oracle told Everton staff not to worry. He'd seen the winner and it was a Bilyaletdinov screamer from 25 yards.[LNB]Few took much notice. Then minutes later, in injury time, substitute John Heitinga slipped an innocuous ball to the Russian from just that distance, and his first-time strike blazed into the top corner. From 25 yards.[LNB]Said steward was too bashful to be interviewed by the ECHO (or even suggest some lottery numbers for me), but David Moyes may be interested in having a word with him.[LNB]Had the visionary been around to predict the number of decisive last-gasp strikes which have hurt Everton since January, evasive action could have been taken.[LNB]All those infuriating draws, when three points beckoned, could have been avoided. That's where it gets interesting. Because if Moyes' men had taken nine of the 11 points which went begging, they would have finished on level points with fourth-placed Tottenham.[LNB]How galling it is to realise that, even given that awful injury-stricken start, Everton could and probably should have been in the mix to join European football's elite club. Instead they were left with nothing to play for yesterday, while Chelsea and Manchester United, both sides beaten by Everton at Goodison, decided the destination of the title.[LNB] Show Caption The first half against Avram Grant's FA Cup finalists saw Everton miss enough chances to overtake even Chelsea's remarkable 8-0 demolition of Wigan en route to lifting the league trophy.
