Louis Saha is being played to perfection. When the striker is close to fitness he plays; rather than keeping him out with injuries, Moyes sends him out sparingly – squeezing match time out of his injured frame until the pips squeak. From 15 starts Saha has scored 10 goals this season, and Christmas and the New Year promises to bring further hope with Landon Donovan jetting over, and  Mikel Arteta and the two Phils – Jagielka and Neville – returning to the fray.

Stamford Bridge may well be the scene of the climb for Moyes, and the season isn’t over by a long stretch.

EVERTON 2 (Saha 77, Cahill 85) – TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (Defoe 46, Dawson 58)
Ref: Andre Mariner. Gate: 34,003.

After about 15 minutes an injured Joseph Yobo was substituted and a young, virtually unknown, Irishman called Seamus Coleman with number 31 on his shirt trotted into the right back position and pushed Lucas Neill across to centre back to leave Everton’s back four looking like a weak bridge hand, containing, as it did, three right backs. Shoulders dropped and in their hearts few on the pitch, or in the crowd, can have doubted that Spurs, already looking threatenening, were going to be trouble. A few minutes later, Coleman saw an opening and surged into the Spurs penalty area, beat his man and delivered a challenging cross which Cahill missed by inches. In that moment we saw the birth of a Premier League footballer: he had crossed the threshold, he knew he could do it and just as importantly, so did his team-mates. Rarely can a young player, promoted from the reserves, on home debut, have made such an immediate impact. This writer has witnessed just three; Joe Royle, David Johnson and Wayne Rooney.
A year ago Donegal-born Coleman was playing for Sligo Rovers. Bought for £150,000 in January, he now stands as yet another example of David Moyes’ transfer acumen; what price Kyle Naughton now, Harry? The £6 mln full back stolen by Spurs from under our noses didn’t even make the substitutes bench.
Nil nil at half-time became one nil to Spurs within a minute of the restart. Howard punched off Crouch’s head, the ball wasn’t cleared properly and Huddlestone found Lennon, whose instant cross was volleyed home by Defoe, who had left Hibbert for dead, from about three yards. Dawson made it two nil on 58 minutes when he escaped the attentions of Neill and met Kranjcar’s corner with a diving header. David Moyes responded by immediately taking off a subdued Jack Rodwell and Jo for Yakubu and Saha.
With less than fifteen minutes left came the moment which turned the game. Coleman raiding well forward, beat Gareth Bale (on for Assou-Ekotto) and picked out Saha with a perfect, low hard cross which King Louis flashed into the net. Goodison roared. The team suddenly had momentum: a second was certain to follow and on 85 minutes another attack, originating from our most creative player Seamus Coleman, was half cleared to Baines whose powerful, but misplaced shot, found Tim Cahill, who stooped and headed and scored. This was breathtaking football, this is what Sky TV pay billions of pounds to take to the sitting rooms and pubs of Britain, to the fashionable apartments of Hong Kong and Singapore and to communal TV sets in shanty town slums across Asia.
Tim Howard versus Jermain Defoe might well be a rehearsal for Rustenburg on June 12th. If so it was round one to the big American. Palacios and Hibbert came together as they chased Crouch’s knockdown into the area, Mariner pointed instantly to the spot, but a protracted pause of three minutes followed, as the clearly badly injured Palacios was stretchered off, a delay during which Defoe paced around, clearly working to control his nerves. In the event he drilled the ball straight, Howard had dived to his right, but not wholeheartedly, and his trailing legs did the rest.
A transformational result, a wonderful fight back, a new defender found, and a season suddenly filled with opportunity.

TEAMS
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Neill, Hibbert, Yobo (Coleman 15), Baines; Rodwell (Yakubu 63), Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill ©; Jo (Saha 63).
Subs not used: Nash, Duffy, Agard, Baxter.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-1-3-2): Gomes; Corluka, Dawson ©, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto (Bale 45); Huddlestone; Palacois (Hutton 95), Lennon, Kranjcar (Jenas 88); Crouch, Defoe
Subs not used: Alnwick, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Bentley.

When you’re down fortune deserts you, and so it was last night with the Tigers three up inside half an hour. Dollops of luck and comedy were liberally spread around the KC with Zayette and Yobo competing for the title of master of ceremonies. All three of Hull’s strikes would, on another night, have been safely dealt with. However we do not want to gloss over the cold truth that Everton’s first half performance, was poor, let’s just hope it proves to be the nadir of the season. The first goal came on 9 minutes, following a deflected Yobo header and mix up between Distin and Baines before Hunt finally put it away. Dawson scored the second on 20 minutes direct from a free-kick, which should never have been awarded, and Marney scored courtesy of a Tim Cahill deflection on 28 minutes. Half time saw Moyes withdraw the ineffective Yakubu and beef up midfield with Gosling and it wasn’t long before the Blues were back in it. Johnny Heitinga flashed in a low cross which Zayette miskicked comically into his own net. Would Everton now take this game by the scruff of the neck? Unfortunately not. After much ineffective huffing and puffing Saha was brought down by that man Zayette again for a clear penalty which he slotted home for his eighth league goal of the season. Despite Hull looking nervy towards the end Everton created little and on the night got what they deserved, nothing. Before we start reaching for the pills let’s just remind ourselves who was missing last night: Suspended – Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov; Injured – Jageilka, Arteta, Neville, Vaughan, Anichebe and Osman, virtually a complete team.

Everton (4-4-2): Howard; Neill, Yobo, Distin, Baines; Cahill ©, Rodwell, Heitinga, Pienaar; Saha, Yakubu
Subs: Nash, Hibbert, Jo, Gosling, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter

Hull City (4-4-2): Duke; McShane, Gardner ©, Zayatte, Dawson; Garcia, Marney, Boateng, Hunt; Geovanni, Altidore
Subs: Myhill, Barmby, Kilbane, Mouyokolo, Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Cairney

Sometimes, just sometimes, you have to hold your hand up and admit to being beaten by a better side. Old Trafford, Manchester, Saturday 21st November 2009 was one of those occasions. Completely outclassed in midfield during the first half we were lucky to go in at half time trailing by just one goal. Despite nominally having the numerical advantage by playing five across the middle to United’s four, their four in the shape of Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia and the ageless Giggs, were simply more skilful and just passed their way through us at will.
Moyes started with the expected 4-5-1 with Saha the lone striker and Fellaini playing just off him. Cahill was wide left, while, as we had hoped, Lucas Neill replaced Hibbert at right back. For United Wes Brown and Vidic came in at the heart of their defence while the ’odd couple’ of Rooney and Owen led the attack in a 4-4-2 formation.
United controlled the first half and it was no surprise when Fletcher scored on 35 minutes and it was a beauty – to all but those with blue eyes. A perfectly executed left foot volley which swerved and went in off the post and gave Tim Howard no chance. Half time saw Yakubu introduced for Gosling and the change worked, at least initially; Everton immediately showed some improvement, carried a greater threat and looked more comfortable. Just as optimism was beginning to grow that an equalizer might be possible Carrick slotted home a Giggs cross for his first of the season and the game was effectively over. Valencia scored a deflected third following a Scholes lay-off to seal an emphatic victory.
Any positives? Yes, five in all; our back four played well and kept Owen and Rooney relatively quiet; Baines was impressive at left back making a number of timely tackles; Yakubu got another 45 minutes under his belt; Bilyaletdinov is another game closer to returning; we don’t have to play United away again this season.

Everton: (4-5-1) Howard; Neill, Yobo, Distin, Baines; Gosling, Rodwell, Cahill ©, Heitinga, Fellaini; Saha
Subs; Nash, Hibbert, Jo, Yakubu, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter
Manchester United: (4-4-2) Van der Sar; Rafael, Wes Brown, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs ©; Rooney, Owen
Subs: Kuszozak, Anderson, Scholes, Welbeck, Obertan, Gibson, De Laet

As expected, David Moyes started with a 4-5-1 formation. Louis Saha and Johnny Heitinga came in for Yakubu and the suspended Bilyaletdinov. A big surprise for anyone who saw Hibbert’s poor performance against Benfica was that he retained his place. We assume Lucas Neill is not fully fit or David Moyes is trying to preserve Hibbert’s shaky confidence, rather like a driver encouraged to get back behind the wheel after a nasty car crash. Robert Green made his 100th consecutive appearance for the Hammers while Spector and Zavon Hines – who netted a dramatic last-minute winner against Villa on Wednesday – came in for the injured Ilunga and Cole. Surprisingly, Noble was dropped in favour of Jiminez as Zola started with an attacking 4-4-2.
West Ham dominated the opening exchanges, playing some sweet football that will have pleased Gianfranco Zola, with Faubert and Hines looking lively. Then on 27 minutes Everton scored, completely against the run of play. Tim Cahill held the ball up on the edge of the West Ham area before laying it back to Saha who drilled a beauty into the bottom right corner, giving Green no chance from about 20 yards. The goal silenced the Boleyn Ground and visibly lifted Everton’s confidence; Saha almost added a second, heading narrowly wide from a corner.
West Ham started the second half more strongly with Junior Stanislas replacing Jack Collison. Saha appeared to be troubled by his calf again and came off in favour of Yakubu after 57 minutes. On 64 minutes the Toffees doubled their lead. Cahill and Yakubu fought for possession on the edge of the penalty area before the Yak played the ball to Gosling on the overlap; his first shot was blocked by Green but only back into his path and he hammered gleefully into the net. Game over? Not quite. Diamenti played a long ball over the Everton defence into the path of Stanislas who chipped Howard but the ball lacked pace and Hibbert looked set to hook clear but could only hoof the ball into the roof of the net. The Hammers sensed an equalizer but Everton’s battling qualities are not to be underestimated and they held firm to take a valuable three points and timely confidence boost ahead of the international break and the visit to Old Trafford in two weeks’ time.

Guest of honour and Everton legend Dave Hickson will have felt at home watching this game, which was in many ways like a throwback to an earlier era. Hard fought, inelegant, dour, and a fair result in which two dismissals, late on in the game, were the main talking point. Bilyaletdinov’s straight red for a studs-up two footed challenge on Petrov was at first sight a touch harsh, but in the cold light of a slow-motion replay was revealed as a correct call by referee Lee Probert. He now misses three league games; West Ham (a), Man United (a) and Hull (a), returning in time for the Liverpool match at Goodison on Sunday November 29th, so at least he should nicely rested ahead of his first derby. He will be available for the Europa League game against Benfica on Thursday. It took Arteta a season to get accustomed to the Premier League; Bilyaletdinov has two well taken goals to his credit already and there is true quality in his boots, but realistically we feel his best is many months away. Our key observation from the game though concerns our new right back making his home league debut – Lucas Neill. He brings additional height and physical presence to our defence, he offers more than Hibbert going forward, and his positional sense is good. Strong competition in all positions is what we crave and now finally have at right back

A string of three tough away fixtures in six days during which we have conceded ten goals and shorn by injuries of ALL our creative players – Pienaar, Bilyaletdinov, Arteta, Osman (yes, we characterise him as ‘creative’); three top notch defenders – Baines, Yobo, Jageilka and our midfield ball-winner Neville we at least put up a fight at White Hart Lane last night. Moyes is, quite rightly, so incensed by this fixture pile up that he couldn’t trust himself in front of the press last night….and the journey home will have been quiet. A tough test awaits at Goodison on Saturday in the shape of Martin O’Neills’ Villa. Youngster Rodwell is desperately in need of a rest but won’t get it. Which players will be available is unknowable, and will, quite rightly, be kept tight within the Everton camp until just before kick-off. In stock market parlance we have just experienced a ‘triple bottom’…….technical analysts will tell you that this feature is often followed by a ‘break-out’ on the upside…..

So said (musical) Blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II, and it’s a fitting summation of Thursday’s game where the Stadium of Light bathed our callow English blues in the glare of professional European football. Our youngsters – Coleman, Gosling, Rodwell, Baxter, even Fellaini – may have wanted to play well for the blues, but collectively they were out of their depth.

Joey Yobo - A little bit gormless.

We were handed our biggest European thumping by Benfica , a 5-0 drubbing that didn’t quite match Arsenal’s pistol whipping season opener against us, but showed the gaping holes in our defence. There are excuses to be submitted, and they are good ones. Most revolve around injuries which meant that youths had to be flung out of their prams and onto the pitch and experienced players had to be shunted into uncomfortable positions. Bile and venom from the kneejerkers has flooded fan sites – but with a second choice defence, and a midfield stripped of Arteta, Pienaar, and Captain Neville – this was always going to happen against a slick Benfica side.

Poor Seamus Coleman a young Irish reserve who found himself in the side on Thursday, had to fight injury in the summer with a nasty infected blister that stared eating away at his foot. Quick, effective treatment “probably saved the lads career” according to Baz Rathbone – our physio. The Stadium of Light against a caffeinated Benfica, was hardly the ideal place for a debut.

So much has been made of Liverpool, and their struggles with red beach balls and injured marquee players that Everton, in their mediocrity, have slunk into the shadows. Make no mistake though, we are hurting too. Moyes‘ summer recruits were meant as additions to our injured players , not as replacements. We still cannot see the full picture, and with eleven players missing against Benfica the team will be playing with one eye closed until injured players return.

It isn’t just Evertonians who forget exactly what we have in reserve; when it comes to the world cup and Fabio Capello’s projected choices at centre half the same names seem to be paraded out by most people. Rio Ferdinand has been the reason for many nervous journalistic scribblings with his supposed creaking 31yr old frame. John Terry has been at the heart of a Chelsea Team seemingly unable to switch to the much maligned zonal defence.As the possible back ups are mooted Phil Jagielka very rarely features.

Phil Jagielka is Everton’s best defender, and perhaps even more importantly, was comfortably Everton’s best defender when Joleon Lescott was still a Toffee. The fact that Jagielka eclipses his former partner in almost every facet of the game – is also rarely mentioned.

Everton’s woeful run of injuries last season has sploshed over to this season too – Yakubu’s Achilles stole away our shooting star, and he’s still not himself. Thesp Antony Sher called his Achilles knack “A mysterious accident that befalls sportsmen in top condition, little old ladies stepping off the curb, and a surprising number of actors” , and the surgeon described Sher’s injury as having ” ruptured completely, up the back of your leg like a venetian blind.”…Who knows when

Arteta’s absence has left all creative responsibility to Pienaar, and both were absent in Portugal. Jags though is our biggest loss. There is an innate jitteriness about Yobo; he often seems devoid of gorm and guile and you wouldn’t trust him in the vicinity of bone china or prized antiques; Distin seems a worthier junior partner at centre half than the Nigerian. Jack Rodwell, the heir apparent to Everton’s defence and Rio’s England shirt,  is currently doing his apprenticeship in midfield. Promote him too soon and we could stunt his development.

When fit, Jagielka has been wonderful at Everton, and without both him and our captain Phil Neville we do appear rudderless at times. Jagielka is such a revalation at Everton that there are a few blues who were actually happy that he was unfit for transfer whilst Man City’s wealthy and roving eye was looking for defenders. Capello though should have Jagielka’s name bouncing around his mind. When we first signed him he was a polyglot player: full back, centre back, defensive midfield, he even proved his abilities as a goalkeeper at Sheffield United. It didn‘t take him too long to permanently lodge himself at the centre of defence – and hopefully his name is still lodged in Capello’s head…He’s been under the radar because of his injury, but he should be back at the end of this year…Let’s hope that Capello’s memory is longer than some amnesiac journalists.

As for the flood of negativity from some Evertonians after our thrashing, let’s play a little game. Write down the eleven players who were unavailable on Thursday (they can have Carlo Nash in goal for argument’s sake), and write down the eleven who started…If crow-barred into two teams, which one would win?