Moyes content despite Stoke’s late leveller
STOKE 1 vs EVERTON 1
EVERTON wasted the chance to steal a march on rivals Liverpool after substitute Cameron Jerome secured a Premier League point for Stoke with a 69th-minute equaliser in an occasion best forgotten.
“[Finishing above Liverpool] is not desperately important, the important thing is to finish in the top 10 and this might secure that,” said Everton manager David Moyes. “If we can win the last two games it will be a good season for us.”
Unlike many at this stage of the season, Moyes’ side, who lie seventh, still have much to play for as they hope to finish above their rivals for the first time since 2005, though both they and Stoke appeared motivated by little.
Typically, the throw-ins of Rory Delap were Stoke’s chief creativity, and any goal appeared unlikely to arrive in a remotely inspirational manner. Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross and Kenwyne Jones all wasted chances for Stoke, while Everton’s in-form Nikica Jelavic hit the ball over the bar with his knee.
Yet just when it appeared the game would remain goalless at half-time, Everton went in front when Tony Hibbert’s cross hit Marc Wilson before glancing in off of Peter Crouch’s back for a cruel own goal.
The second-half’s pattern of play remained unchanged until Stoke manager Tony Pulis introduced Jerome in a treble substitution, though it wasn’t until he scored that his contribution told. The powerful striker seized on a loose ball to race clear and fire past goalkeeper Tim Howard to secure his side’s equaliser and what was ultimately a fair point.