Everton's miserable season continues

Manchester City 2 Everton 0

Everton’s miserable season shows no sign of taking a turn for the better after the rock-bottom Toffeemen slumped to their sixth defeat in seven Barclays Premiership outings.

David Moyes must have fancied his side’s chances of stopping the rot and claiming a least a point from a largely drab north-west derby.

But those illusions were shattered by Danny Mills 18 minutes from time when the full-back latched on to Lee Croft’s square pass and drilled an unstoppable 25-yard effort into the top corner of former Leeds team-mate Nigel Martyn’s goal.

Everton gamely rallied, and Kevin Kilbane almost levelled before Sylvain Distin magnificently cleared off his own line.

But their efforts proved in vain, and Darius Vassell wrapped up the win in stoppage time, ending City’s three-match losing streak in the process.

It sends Moyes’ men into the international break two points adrift at the foot of the table.

If life could not get any worse the Scot could also fear a tap on the shoulder from the Football Association, who may want to look at the video of Phil Neville apparently lashing out with his boot at Croft – an incident which went unseen by referee Mark Halsey.

The pulsating finish was a stark contrast to what had gone before.

The earliest kick-off in Premiership history left supporters of a religious disposition with a straight choice between football and church.

Those who chose the former found little in the way of spiritual guidance in a first half so poor it must have left many wishing they had stayed in bed.

If events at The Valley and Craven Cottage yesterday offered counter evidence to the argument of a drab, boring Premiership this dismal fare backed up every claim which has been made.

The most noteworthy incident which occurred – before Halsey brought merciful relief with his half-time whistle – came before the game had even started when Claudio Reyna pulled out with a neck injury.

It forced City boss Stuart Pearce, bidding to arrest his own mini-slump after three successive defeats, into playing Joey Barton even though the tenacious midfielder was not fully fit.

Typically, though, Barton responded to the challenge and was in the middle of most of the cut and thrust around the halfway line.

So too was Neville, the United old boy receiving a predictably warm reception on his return to Manchester.

Neville was eager to make his mark and did so with a couple of searing tackles, although it was Joseph Yobo who followed through another forceful challenge on Barton by smacking the City man on the nose – leaving blood running down his face.

The reason for Everton’s present plight is fairly obvious.

Moyes’ side were not particularly free-scoring last season. But one league goal in six previous starts is a sorry record in anyone’s book, and it is a situation which needs to be addressed quickly if the Merseysiders are not to endure a campaign battling solely to preserve their top-flight status.

Tim Cahill did so much to deliver last season’s fourth-placed finish, including the winner in the corresponding fixture.

But as with the rest of his side, the Australian’s goals have dried up this term.

Cahill did find the net during that poor opening period, only to have the effort ruled out for offside.

The midfielder also had the most meaningful shot, which David James collected with ease.

It was more than City could muster, even with Andy Cole back after his recent hamstring trouble.

Only once did Cole look like breaking free of the shackles imposed on him by Toffees captain David Weir, but even then the Scot quickly recovered his ground.

The former England striker had a bit more luck after the interval, smashing a shot into the side-netting – as Kiki Musampa had done a bit earlier.

Thankfully, it was not long afterwards when Mills broke the deadlock.

Given Mills has previously scored only six Premiership goals – and none since December 2002 – the former England full-back was an unexpected match-winner.

Yet the way the ball arrowed into the top corner called into question why the 28-year-old’s strikes have been so infrequent.

Kevin Kilbane came close to levelling within a minute. But James produced his best save of the match to keep out the Irishman’s angled drive – allowing Vassell to finish the contest in stoppage time with his third goal of the campaign.