Premiership: Campbell wastes Everton chances

Kevin Campbell fluffed four great goalscoring opportunities for Everton in their 0-0 draw with Ipswich.

Campbell was clean-through three times but Matteo Sereni blocked the first chance, the second was poked wide - and the keeper comfortably saved the third.

Finally, in the 87th minute, he missed a wonderful chance when he side-footed into the side-netting from just four yards out.

Ipswich's Matt Holland brought a fine save from Everton keeper Paul Gerrard from only eight yards, but it will be Campbell's succession of missed chances that are remembered.

After a sluggish start, the Merseysiders had the first attempt on goal after 18 minutes when right-back Steve Watson flashed a header from a whipped Mark Pembridge free-kick a yard over the crossbar.

Home goalkeeper Sereni did very well to block as Campbell raced clear from a threaded Thomas Radzinski pass. At the other end, Paul Gerrard also had to race from his line to hook the ball away from Martijn Reuser.

Then Sereni made another fine save - scrambling to his right - to flick a deflected Niclas Alexandersson shot round the post.

In a rare moment of excitement, Marcus Stewart's powerful 14-yard header was saved by Gerrard. As the ball spilled from his grasp, Armstrong pounced, just four yards out, but screwed the ball across the face of the goal when he really should have opened the scoring.

Jim Magilton signalled Ipswich's intention to make the second period a more memorable affair than the first as he thumped a powerful 25-yard strike a foot wide of Everton's left-hand post.

Gerrard made a superb block save from a firm eight-yard effort from Holland a minute later, before Abel Xavier almost turned a Fabian Wilnis cross into his own net.

The substitute full-back found Reuser from another cross after 55 minutes, but the midfielder's far-post header landed on the roof of the net.

Armstrong showed his strength by barging both Xavier and Everton substitute Alan Stubbs off the ball in 59th minute. The forward turned and lashed the ball just over the bar from 16 yards.

At the other end, Campbell came even closer to breaking the deadlock when he raced onto a Radzinski pass and poked the ball inches wide from eight yards.

His strike partner put him through again three minutes later, but this time Campbell shot tamely at Sereni, who saved easily.

Alun Armstrong cracked a low shot into the side-netting after 78 minutes, before Finidi George's introduction finally sparked some inventive play.

The Nigerian ace's goalbound header was blocked by David Weir, before a Reuser strike from 30 yards skidded just past the post.