Match Links
- Barclays Premier League
- 3rd Nov 2007
- KO 15:00
- Att: 35,155
Everton v Birmingham preview
Blues chase first win at Goodison Park in half a century
By Andrew Scurr Last updated: 2nd November 2007
Bruce: Eyes successive wins
Player to watch: Tim Cahill
Sky Bet odds: Everton 4/6 Draw 11/5 Birmingham 4/1
Related links
Teams
Also see
Birmingham will aim for their first win at Goodison Park in almost 50 years on Saturday.
Blues last beat Everton on Merseyside in November 1957, and Steve Bruce's side must end that streak this weekend in order to record successive Premier League victories for the first time since December 2005.
Olivier Kapo's 81st minute winner against Wigan secured victory for Birmingham at St Andrews last weekend.
They must now face an Everton side who themselves come into the game on the back of picking up three Premier League points at Derby.
Doubts over trio
Everton are expected to be without left-back Leighton Baines for the visit of Birmingham because of an ankle injury, while Andy Johnson is not quite ready to return.
Midfielder Mikel Arteta is a doubt with a calf problem but James Vaughan is available having featured at Luton following four months out.
Moyes welcomes back Phil Neville and Tony Hibbert after they served one-match bans for red cards against Liverpool.
Blues boosted
Birmingham have Mikel Forssell and Johan Djourou back from hernia and hamstring injuries respectively.
Striker Forssell has been absent for four matches after going under the knife, while on-loan defender Djourou has missed two games.
Honduran international Wilson Palacios is in the squad, despite his brother having been kidnapped in his homeland.
| Team | Everton | Birmingham City |
| Games Played | 11 | 11 |
| Goal Attempts | ||
| Goals | 15 | 11 |
| Ave Goals per game | 1.36 | 1.00 |
| Shots (excl blocked shots) | 102 | 94 |
| % Shots on Target | 48% | 45% |
| % Goals to Shots | 15% | 12% |
| Passing | ||
| Short Passes | 2,678 | 2,504 |
| Long Passes | 594 | 668 |
| Overall Pass Completion % | 70% | 68% |
| Crossing | ||
| Total Crosses | 251 | 225 |
| Cross Completion % | 22% | 24% |
| Defending | ||
| Goals Conceded | 13 | 15 |
| Ave goals conceded per game | 1.18 | 1.36 |
| Tackles | 246 | 265 |
| Tackles Won % | 77% | 76% |
| Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions | 908 | 703 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fouls | 149 | 161 |
| Yellow Cards | 10 | 19 |
| Red Cards | 2 | 0 |
Match Poll
Experts & Blogs
Delighted with start
Brighton starlet Jake Robinson is the new League One Pro-Life blogger. Read his first instalment.
Table
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 3 | 6 |
| 5 | West Ham United | 3 | 6 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 4 |
| 9 | Manchester United | 2 | 4 |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 3 | 4 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 3 | 4 |
| 12 | Hull City | 3 | 4 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | Fulham | 2 | 3 |
| 15 | Stoke City | 3 | 3 |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | Everton | 3 | 3 |
| 18 | Sunderland | 3 | 3 |
| 19 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 1 |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 3 | 1 |
