Moyes defends Rooney decision

Everton 0 Manchester City 0

Last weekend Moyes took Rooney off at Bolton early in the second-half, and the striker showed his displeasure as Everton crashed to defeat. This time Moyes did not even send Rooney out for the second-half, replacing the 18-year-old with James McFadden at the break.

Moyes started Rooney as a deep striker behind the front pairing of Francis Jeffers and Tomasz Radzinski, and although it worked early on, soon City were by-passing the youngster and causing considerable problems.

Moyes said: “I made a tactical change by bringing Wayne off to try to change the flow of the game in the second half.

“But by half-time City were on top and getting opportunities and we were not as good in that area.”

He added: “In the opening 20 minutes he did get good possession. But he is learning all the time and are really pleased with the way he is developing as a player.

“He is the best 18 year-old in the country and we are really pleased with the way he is coming along. But you will be peaks and troughs as any player will tell you, and it is even more so with a young player.”

Kevin Keegan, who has not seen his side win now in seven matches, felt City deserved a point at least.

He said: “We weathered the first 15 minutes, but we had greater possession, more chances and better forward situations than them.

“But because we are lacking in confidence, and that also applied to Everton, we are unable to play the final pass or make the correct decisions in possession.

“If you have had a run like we are in, you do tend to err on the side of caution and not take risks. But it will come. They certainly all scrapped for the team and we deserved a point, we certainly did not deserve to lose.”

Keegan confirmed David Seaman has suffered a rib injury rather than the hamstring problem which was first suspected.

Youngster Kevin Ellegaard took the veteran’s place and Keegan was pleased with his display.

Keegan said: “David needed an injection to be able to play, but he told us he was in trouble and it would not last 90 minutes. But Kevin did well, he made a couple of great saves.”

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert (Kilbane 45), Stubbs, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley, Li Tie, Gravesen, Jeffers (Campbell 64), Rooney (McFadden 45), Radzinski.

MAN CITY: Seaman (Stuhr-Ellegaard 52), Jihai, Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Wright-Phillips (Wanchope 77), McManaman, Barton, Sinclair, Fowler, Anelka.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).