Everton 2 - 1 Wigan

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Saturday Aug 11 2007 03:00

Everton triumphed in what was a dire first game of the new Premier League season and one David Moyes will be hoping to improve on.

The only changes to the Everton side from the one that finished the final game of last season at Chelsea were the introduction of Andy Johnson and Victor Anichebe.

Wigan's new boss, Chris Hutchings, however, displayed four of his seven close season signings with Andreas Granqvist, Titus Bramble, Jason Koumas and Mario Melchiot all starting, and he will be hoping this season doesn't go down to a last-day relegation battle.

It was David Moyes' men that started the game brightly though, with danger-man Mikel Arteta looking particularly sharp, though judging by Johnson's wayward eighth-minute effort, the diminutive striker needs a little more time to shake the dust from his boots.

After just 20 minutes the game was already looking tired with both teams cancelling each other out. Paul Scharner went close for Wigan but both his shots were blocked by Lee Carsley.

It was Leon Osman who broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when he pounced on Tony Hibbert's wicked cross after the ball had bounced over an inept Titus Bramble.

Minutes later the referee turned down one of the most blatant penalties the Premiership will see this season. Arteta took on three Wigan players in the area before Bramble decided to go route one and simply hacked the Spaniard down right in front of the official.

Goodison erupted in fury when the ref waved play on. A minute later Bramble hacked down Anichebe but unfortunately for the Toffees it was outside the box and Arteta's free-kick sailed inches wide of Chris Kirkland's goal.

Wigan came out with more purpose but still relied too much on long, high balls into Heskey and Caleb Folan. Everton looked comfortable, seemingly happy with their lead but Osman should have put Moyes' side further ahead on the hour.

After a scramble in the box which saw goalkeeper Kirkland on the deck, Osman hit his shot the wrong side of the goal from just three feet out.

New Wigan signing Antoine Sibierski entered the fray on 66 minutes just as Luis Antonio Valencia hit a blistering shot across Tim Howard's goal.

A minute later Everton could have wrapped it up but youngster Anichebe laid a pass on for Johnson in the area when it would have been easier to shoot himself.

Everton brought on new signing Steven Pienaar for Osman as the game seemingly drifted to a close. It paid instant dividends as the debutant put Johnson through and his cross found Anichebe, who buried the ball past Kirkland, albeit off the crossbar.

New boy Sibierski gave Wigan some hope with ten minutes left by scoring from Scharner's cross after Emile Heskey's slide-rule pass had opened up the Everton defence, but it was a false dawn for the Latics as the game ended 2-1.

  • 90
    There goes the full-time whistle and Everton hold on for a deserved opening day victory. Wigan woke up too late in the day and have to improve on this over the coming weeks.
  • 88
    Scharner tries his luck with a 25-yard snap shot but it's desperate and goes well wide.
  • 86
    The Wigan fans are trying to push their side on, but it looks like being to no avail - Everton certainly deserve the points.
  • 84
    Everton have taken the sting out of the game, keeping possesion well and Wigan are running out of time to salvage anything.
  • 82
    Alan Stubbs leaves an imprint in Sibierski's legs after a rough challenge, but the Frenchman dusts himself off and carries on.
  • 80
    Maybe it's not all over yet! Scharner breaks down the right and his ball across goal picks out the unmarked Sibierski, who slots home past Howard.
  • 77
    Arteta almost makes it 3-0, but the Spaniard's 30-yard shot is saved brilliantly at full stretch by Kirkland.
  • 75
    Everton double their lead and look to have sealed the win. Johnson does brilliantly to turn Granqvist and crosses for Anichebe, it comes off the striker's shins and Bramble can't stop it on the line.
  • 72
    Another change, this time from Everton. David Moyes brings off Leon Osman, who is replaced by Steven Pienaar
  • 70
    Phil Neville takes the initative and powers towards the box, but the one-two with Osman doesn't come off and Kirkland collects it.
  • 67
    The first substitution and it's made by Chris Hutchings, as Caleb Folan makes way for Antoine Sibierski.
  • 66
    Everton win another corner and Lescott powers a header just over from Arteta's set piece.
  • 64
    Johnson is working hard again for Everton, but Arteta looks set for the man-of-the-match award as he's been outstanding.
  • 62
    They may look better going forward, but Wigan are still shakey at the back. Kirkland can't clear with a punch and Granqvist is forced to turn Osman's shot behind for a corner.
  • 60
    You sense Wigan finally feel they can get back into this game and Koumas is leading the charge. The midfielder's long-range effort curls over the bar.
  • 58
    Koumas swings in a corner to the near post, Scharner rises the highest in the area but his header goes over the bar.
  • 55
    Caleb Folan goes on a threatening run and is eventually crowded out by the Everton defence, but Wigan appear to be growing in confidence.
  • 53
    Arteta is starting to cause problems again for Wigan, the midfielder's cross from the right and the Latics defence is forced to scramble it away.
  • 51
    A quick break from Everton, Osman is tripped but ref Clattenburg plays on and Johnson is running towards goal but is stopped by Melchiot's challenge. The crowd bay for a penalty, but the referee says no.
  • 49
    The crowd are trying to lift the home side, who have been a bit sluggish at the start of this half.
  • 47
    The visitors have pushed on more in the second half and are looking to get back on level terms, but this Everton backline looks solid.
  • 45
    Wigan get us underway in the second half with no changes by either manager at the break.
  • 45
    Everton deservedly ahead at the break, although David Moyes will be thinking that they should be more than just one goal up. A lot of work for Wigan to do in the second half if they are to get back into it.
  • 43
    Wigan almost snatch an undeserved equaliser, as a fierce 30-yard strike from Heskey whistles just past the post with Howard beaten.
  • 41
    Luis Valencia is fed by Heskey but the midfielder shot on the turn drifts wide of the goal.
  • 39
    Bramble gives the ball away again, as his pass to Melchoit is intercepted by Anichebe. The striker finds Johnson, but Granqvist blocks the England man's shot to get his centre-back partner out of trouble.
  • 37
    This will be a big test early in his reign for Chris Hutchings, he needs to sort things out at the break or face an opening day defeat.
  • 35
    Johnson tries his luck again with a snap shot, butn his volley is collected by Kirkland.
  • 33
    Again Arteta pushes forward into the box and only a last gasp challenge from Bramble denies the Spaniard a shooting opportunity. The home fans want a penalty, but Mark Clattenburg gets it right and waves play on.
  • 31
    Arteta is the stand-out player on the park and he lets fly with a free-kick, which flies just wide of Chris Kirkland's upright.
  • 28
    Koumas is going to have to be careful, the Wigan midfielder escaping a booking after another foul on Arteta.
  • 26
    Tony Hibbert's cross is not cleared by Bramble and Osman loops his header over Kirkland and in off the underside of bar.
  • 24
    Everton still look the more likely to break the deadlock, although Wigan are trying hard to get a foot hold.
  • 22
    A poor clearance from Yobo falls to Scharner, but the Wigan man's shot is deflected and rolls into the arms of Tim Howard.
  • 20
    Johnson is causing constant problems for the visitors, but is caught just offside as he tries to latch onto a through ball from Phil Neville.
  • 18
    Victor Anichebe and his former Everton team-mate Kevin Kilbane collide and both need treatment, but should be okay.
  • 15
    The home side are dominating territory and Wigan are struggling to stem the tide, with centre-back pairing Titus Bramble and Andreas Granqvist with plenty to do.
  • 13
    Denny Landzaat finds a bit of space and lets fly from 25 yards, but Alan Stubbs closes him down to block the effort.
  • 11
    Arteta is running the show in midfield and scouser Jason Koumas is forced to bring the Spaniard down in the middle of the park.
  • 9
    Andy Johnson gets his first sniff of goal and tries his luck from 25 yards, but drags his left-foot shot wide.
  • 6
    The first half chance falls to Everton - Arteta swings in a cross from the right but Leon Osman lofts the ball over the bar.
  • 4
    Paul Scharner goes up for a set piece to Wigan, but the Austrian is penalised for a foul on Joleon Lescott in an ariel challenge.
  • 2
    The home side have started brightly and already Mikel Arteta is getting heavily involved.
  • 0
    The new season gets underway in glorious sunshine at Goodison Park and the Everton fans are in good voice.
  • 0
    Wigan hand debuts to new boys Mario Melchiot, Jason Koumas and Titus Bramble. Emile Heskey and Caleb Folan get the nod up front.
  • 0
    David Moyes has decided not to start with any of his summer signings. Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar are on the bench, while Leighton Baines is injured. Andrew Johnson is partnered by Victor Anichebe up front.

Statistics

Everton
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 4
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 8
Offsides 3
Corners 6

Wigan
Shots on target 4
Shots off target 10
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 13
Offsides 5
Corners 2

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