EVERTON 0 POMPEY 3
Pompey’s first victory of the season came in stunning fashion, with three delightful goals crushing Everton at Goodison Park.
The Blues were unchanged from the side that lost to Manchester United at Fratton Park on Monday, although Djimi Traore did replace the injured Jerome Thomas on the bench.
There was a change of system however, with Glen Johnson and Armand Traore deployed as wing-backs in a 3-5-2 formation.
It seemed to have the desired effect as the Blues took the lead with their first chance of the match on 12 minutes.
Distin’s long throw from the left was flicked on by Peter Crouch for Jermain DEFOE, who held off several challenges before turning and rolling a perfectly-placed shot into the bottom left corner of Tim Howard’s net.
He almost added a second goal five minutes later when the Everton defence failed to deal with a cross into the area, but Howard dived acrobatically to his right to push Defoe’s strike around the post.
But only a combination of good luck and brilliant goalkeeping from David James prevented the Toffees from levelling on 22 minutes.
When former Fratton favourite Yakubu found Mikel Arteta unmarked in the area, it looked like a regulation finish for the Spanish midfielder. But James had other ideas and somehow got to the ball and pushed it onto the post. The loose ball then fell back at the feet of Arteta, but he scuffed his shot straight into James’ arms.
Younes Kaboul then had to make a clearance off the line when Leighton Baines’ cross was headed back across goal by James Vaughan.
But Pompey extended their advantage with a goal that oozed class on 40 minutes. Johnson passed to Defoe, who held onto the ball while his team-mate burst into the area. It was then returned to JOHNSON, who controlled with his right-foot before sliding a left-foot shot into the net.
Half Time: Everton 0 Pompey 2
Everton had an excellent opportunity to peg Pompey back just two minutes into the second half, when referee Mark Halsey awarded a soft-looking penalty after Vaughan went down under pressure from Johnson.
Yakubu stepped up to take the spot-kick and tried to make James commit himself early, but the Blues keeper did not budge until the last possible moment, diving to his right to push the ball clear.
Everton were enjoying plenty of possession but on the few instances that they got past Pompey’s defence, they found James in his usual sparkling form.
He was keeping out everything that the hosts could throw at him and comfortably saved Leon Osman’s effort from the edge of the box on 57 minutes.
And Pompey sealed victory with another exquisite goal on 68 minutes – although there might be an argument between Defoe and Crouch over who claims it.
Defoe played a neat one-two with Sean Davis – with the latter back-heeling the ball into the former’s path – before floating in a 20-yard shot that cannoned off the underside of the bar. The ball appeared to have crossed the line but CROUCH made sure with a simple header from virtually on the goal-line.
Yakubu and Joleon Lescott both went close for Everton in the closing stages, as the hosts looked to salvage some pride.
But Pompey comfortably played out the last few minutes to record an impressive – and emphatic - away victory ahead of the international break.
Pompey: James; Kaboul, Campbell (c), Distin; Johnson, A Traore (Hreidarsson 77); Diop, Diarra, Davis (Mvuemba 90); Defoe (Utaka 76), Crouch
Goals: Defoe 12, Johnson 40, Crouch 68
Subs not used: Ashdown, Lauren, D Traore, Sahar
Everton: Howard; Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Arteta, Jagielka, Rodwell, Osman (Baxter 71); Vaughan (Anichebe 58), Yakubu
Booked: Baines
Subs not used: Turner, Jacobsen, Valente, Kissock, Wallace
Referee: Mark Halsey
Attendance: 34,418
