Pre match news

Stephen Ireland comes in to the City line up for this afternoon’s game as Stuart Pearce has, as he hinted early this week, tinkered with his system.

Bernardo Corradi is the man to miss out as Pearce looks to have opted for a 4-5-1 starting formation.

The Match

Everton kick off inside a noisy Goodison Park as City look to break that away duck against their unbeaten opponents.

But the noise from the Everton fans didn’t last too long as City’s support took to reminding them.

Three minutes in and Ishmael Miller threatened to do what he did to Neville senior last year during a reserve match - as a beautiful spinning turn had him almost away from Phil - before he was fouled by the ex-United man.

The game was taking its time to settle down 15 minutes in, which suited City as the frustration began to grow amongst the home support, as both sides struggled to create any clear cut chances.

Just before the half hour, Miller again gave Neville trouble and earnt a free kick on the edge of the Everton box. Barton’s effort took a couple of deflections before Howard grabbed it from underneath his crossbar.

The first real bits of action came inside the last 10 minutes of the half. Joey Barton dragged a shot wide, which was no more than a half-chance, before Everton turned the screw a little.

A couple of corners and free kicks from wide areas brought nothing - other than Beattie putting the ball in the net with the whistle going long beforehand.

Then, just a minute before the break, disaster. Phil Neville’s cross from the right was met by Andy Johnson but it touched the otherwise outstanding Distin on the way in and sent the ball past Nicky Weaver.

City didn’t deserve that and headed into the dressing room an unfortunate goal down.

HALF TIME: Everton 1-0 City

No changes for either side at the break as City came out determined to put the 44th minute set back behind them.

But it was Everton who made Weaver work early in the second half as he beat away an Osman shot. City then went close themselves six minutes in as Hamann swung a shot just wide of Howard’s left-hand post.

More pressure from City quickly followed as Miller’s run and shot brought about a corner which had Howard struggling to deal with.

The fast start to the half continued as a Beattie cross hit Ireland and gave Weaver some trouble as he tipped the ball over the bar.

Pearce made his first change just short of the hour mark, bringing Corradi on for Ireland, in an attempt to bulk up City’s forward options.

On 64 minutes City escaped a certain second goal. Arteta brought a fine save from Weaver and Johnson looked set to double his tally for the afternoon before an amazing goal-line clearance by Richard Dunne whilst lying on the floor - with his chest - despite Everton’s appeals for a penalty.

Georgios Samaras then almost made them rue that chance but he could only pull his shot wide when well place some 15 yards out.

Beasley replaced Miller before Barton’s frustration got the better of him and a rash challenge led to the first yellow card of the day.

City then survived two corners which could have put the Blues further behind. Firstly, Lescott saw Weaver palm his header over the bar, then from the resulting corner Cahill’s header flicked the post before going wide.

Cahill then found his way into the book for a foul on Beasley right on the edge of the Everton box on 74 minutes. Hamann smashed the free kick goalwards, earning a corner in what was to be his last action, before being replaced by Reyna.

Corradi managed to spring the offside trap with six minutes to go but with the ball bouncing around, Valente got back to put the big Italian striker off and his shot went wide.

Sinclair was booked a minute before time as City continued to press for an equaliser. And it nearly came in injury time as Samaras struck the post after some good City pressure but Sinclair could only drive the rebound over the bar.

City weren’t to be denied though. Micah Richards hammered a dramatic leveller in off the underside of the bar deep into stoppage time - with the last kick of the game!

FULL TIME: Everton 1-1 City