First Half Disgrace Costs Everton Again

Another day, another defeat. But this time at the hands of a side destined for a mid table finish at best.

One wondered how Everton would top not leaving their penalty box for 45 minutes at the weekend, but they managed in style with a mixture of 'comedy' (although I certainly didn't see the funny side at the time) defending, and a midfield that maybe, just maybe, would be able to string two passes together if there was no opposition or restrictions on pitch size....

But we'll get to all that later.

The day started to look like it would go so well.

Bullard not playing - yay.

Pienaar fit to start - yay.

News of Destination cow shed attached to Tesco in the middle of nowhere being rejected filtered around the stand - YAY!!!!

But then Everton took to the field, and it all went downhill, fast.

Everton had even lined up in a 4-4-2, with most players in roughly the right position except for Cahill on the wing, and Heitinga in midfield. Which should have been more than enough to see of Hull. However the players let down the fans once again.

It was less than ten minutes in when Distin and Baines combined to set up Altidore for Hull's first. A long high delivery was excellently brought down by Distin, who then fell out the way so Baines could calmly set up Altidore with a beautifully waited pass.

It's a shame for Everton that Distin had decided to play for Hull for the night, oh not a shame that he wasn't playing for Everton, just that he pretended to for 90 minutes of incompetence.

As for Leighton Baines start to the game... The less said the better. Hopefully at some point he will prove to be better than a Conference North struggling amateur this season, but right now I can't see it. I hear Chester City are looking for a decent left back, I'd suggest a loan deal but I'm not sure he could make it in the lofty heights of the Conference.

Hull continued endless pressure on the Everton goal, The Blues once again succeeding in making a poor side look brilliant, cross after cross came in whilst Joseph Yobo attempted to be a one man army against the Hull team, but it wasn't to be.

On 20 minutes some chap named Dawson, no I haven't heard of him either, smashed in a free kick into the top corner.

It was shortly after this, Everton had a chance! No you didn't read that wrong! But thankfully for Hull, Distin got in there to make sure he diverted it away from their goal.

Again it didn't take long for Hull to carve open Everton. Hunt tries to cross the ball, but fails, Distin then carefully picks out Marney and his shot deflects past Howard. 3-0 half an hour in. Disgrace.

Hull very nearly went in 4-0, Hunt with a great cross is so nearly met by Zayatte but the former Everton target can't quite stretch to it.

Half Time. Hull 3 - 0 Everton

Gosling was brought on for Yakubu, he was so far beyond woeful I'm not even going to mention his name again, through fear Moyes may remember he exists and put him in the royal blue jersey again.

3-0 down and Moyes brought of a striker for a midfield player who defines average, needless to say this wasn't too well liked by the Everton fans. But that didn't last long as it became clear Everton had come out a different side. A half decent one.

Within minutes Baines blasted a shot from well outside the area that produced a good save, the first of the match, from Hull keeper Duke.

And it wasn't long after this that Heitinga's cross was diverted into his own goal by Zayatte.

Everton stuttered a bit after getting the goal, and Rodwell was forced off due to injury for Jo. But eventually Everton did find a second around the hour mark.

Zayatte allowed Saha to control a long ball, before dragging him to the ground to give Everton a certain penalty.

King Louis calmly placed it into the corner. 3-2, game on.

Everton tried to press for a winner, but in truth Garcia came closer to making it four than we did equalising, and the game eventually drifted to a 3-2 win for Hull.

Baines and Jo both had clear chances they managed to waste, and Cahill had a shot from 25 yards sail over. But in truth there were no idea's from the Everton midfield, and we just hit long ball, after long ball, after long ball.

Zayatte managed to make it a close game by the end, but in truth the reality was Hull were a class above Everton. Which really, is a major, major worry.

Full Time. Hull 3 - 2 Everton

Everton go into the Derby this weekend, boosted by the return of Fellaini and Bilyaletdinov, but Everton are still a Mikel Arteta away from anything other than a mid table side.

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