Source: Liverpool_Echo
Everton FC 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Match Report
EVERTON boss David Moyes left Marouane Fellaini on the bench for today's clash with Wolves at Goodison Park.
The Belgian authorities had sought to invoke the 'five-day' ruling after Fellaini, who played in his country's 2-0 win over Turkey on Saturday, missed Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier in Estonia following an operation to have a wisdom tooth removed. However FIFA assured Everton they had no case to answer and so Fellaini was available.
Wolves had striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake making his first league start since the opening game of the season, when he suffered a hamstring injury against West Ham. Jody Craddock, Michael Kightly and Ronald Zubar all returned to the starting line-up.
After three successive away defeats, Wolves set about trying to improve on that run with some decent early pressure.
Greg Halford's long throw was a key part of the armoury, and when he launched one into the box after 10 minutes, Christophe Berra saw a shot charged down by Yobo.
Everton were struggling to get going, although Diniyar Bilyaletdinov had a shot blocked by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
But after 15 minutes, Louis Saha won a long ball from Sylvain Distin and set up Tim Cahill for a rising shot on the run that flashed over the bar. Then from a Bilyaletdinov corner, Saha headed just over.
Craddock needed treatment for a cut head, and returned to the pitch heavily bandaged with a clean shirt, now without a number.
Wolves continued to cause Everton problems when they got the ball into the area, and Kevin Doyle produced a fine turn and shot from 15 yards which forced Howard into a save to his right after 28 minutes.
Kightly was booked for bringing down Leighton Baines a minute later, Everton now upping the tempo but still not creating much to trouble Hennessey.
Wolves went close five minutes from the break, when Halford touched a pass to David Edwards, whose shot deflected off Ebanks-Blake and went wide with Howard flat-footed.
Wolves went even closer a minute later when Doyle dummied Zubar's cross from the right, and Ebanks-Blake rolled a shot inches wide.
Striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, finally back in the starting line-up following a hamstring injury, saw one close-range effort deflect wide for the visitors, before rolling the best chance of the half wide from eight yards.
Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard needed to be at his best to keep out a Kevin Doyle effort, while Everton's only genuine chance of the opening period was a Tim Cahill drive that flashed over.
Everton needed more punch up front and Moyes sent on Ayegbeni Yakubu to partner Saha, taking off Tony Hibbert at the break and pushing Heitinga to right-back.
