• Date: Sat 11 August 2007
  • Venue: Goodison Park
  • Ref: Clattenburg, M
  • Attendance: 39,220
Everton

Everton

Osman (26)

Anichebe (75)

2 - 1
Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic

Sibierski (80)

Everton vs Wigan Athletic

Team Lineups

Everton

Tim Howard
Joleon Lescott
Alan Stubbs
Phil Neville
Joseph Yobo
Tony Hibbert
Mikel Arteta
Leon Osman (Steven Pienaar, 73)
Lee Carsley
Victor Anichebe
Andrew Johnson, A

Wigan Athletic

Chris Kirkland
Paul Scharner
Andreas Granqvist
Titus Bramble
Mario Melchiot
Kevin Kilbane
Denny Landzaat
Luis Antonio Valencia
Jason Koumas
Caleb Folan (Antoine Sibierski, 66)
Emile Heskey


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

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
Goal
 

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
Goal
 

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
Substitution
 

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
Substitution
 

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.

Second half
 

Wigan get us underway in the second half with no changes by either manager at the break.

Half time
 

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
Goal
 

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.

Kickoff
 

The new season gets underway in glorious sunshine at Goodison Park and the Everton fans are in good voice.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Wigan hand debuts to new boys Mario Melchiot, Jason Koumas and Titus Bramble. Emile Heskey and Caleb Folan get the nod up front.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

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.