IT WAS a day for celebrating Everton’s award-winning charity, although it would have been better if that sentiment had not extended to the pitch.
On its 25th birthday the club’s ‘Everton In The Community’ initiative rightly garnered all the pre-game plaudits, but unfortunately David Moyes’ defence decided to dish out a few gifts of their own to Aston Villa.
Perhaps this was never going to be a routine chance to triumph, even over opponents who have been so humiliated and down-trodden lately. Maybe it's Everton's perverse opposition to doing things the easy way, or simply the evidence of previous close contests between the two clubs, but deep down the Goodison crowd should have know not to expect anything straight-forward.
One thing is for certain though. The Toffees are going to have to tighten up at the back if they’re intent on remaining in the mix for a top-four finish.
Their defensive dilemma isn't helped by injuries to Tony Hibbert and Seamus Coleman, and the degree to which age is taking its toll on Phil Neville, but relying on the club’s best central defender – in Phil Jagielka – to plug the gap at right back is not a sustainable policy even if it was understandable.
Moyes decided to keep faith with John Heitinga despite the error which ensured the previous victory over West Brom was nervier than it should have been, but that faith was spectacularly unrewarded.
Before kick-off the Salvation Army band had played on the pitch, but if the Dutch defender had prayed for a reprieve from his rotten form then those celestial pleadings were sadly ignored. Heitinga’s plight is perplexing. Voted the club’s player of the season last term, he seems to have lost the combative spark which so endeared him to supporters.
Just two minutes had passed when further painful evidence of the World Cup finalist’s deterioration emerged. Villa mounted a fairly half-hearted attack but still profited, as Charles N’Zogbia released Christian Benteke in the area.
The Belgian striker should have been comfortably shepherded away from goal, but instead glided far too easily past a slumbering Heitinga and coolly rolled the ball beyond Tim Howard.
It certainly wasn’t the first time Everton have gone behind in a game this season, so they’re becoming masters in the art of staying calm and recovering from set-backs.
Duly they controlled the following 20 minutes without ever looking quite at their best, but while Moyes may have regretted the selection of Heitinga he will have been satisfied with the decision to persist with Victor Anichebe. The powerful striker had already stung Brad Guzan’s palms with a venomous effort as he attempted to lead the fight back, and he exhibited his strength superbly to turn Ciaran Clark in the area and equalise with a low finish after being supplied by Kevin Mirallas.
That should have ensured Everton were in a position to push for the lead, but instead more sloppy defending quickly saw them behind again. This time a mix-up saw Ashley Westwood’s cross uncleared and serial Everton tormentor Gabriel Agbonlahor rose above Heitinga to head home.
At that point the Blues were facing the prospect of having to score three to win, something they hadn’t achieved since September but at least Paul Lambert’s side were defending with enough fragility to suggest it was feasible.
Mirallas’ probing was a source of optimism too, as the winger combined smartly with Leighton Baines and Leon Osman, and again showed that he relishes a floating role behind Anichebe.
However Everton needed to rely on Villa’s wastefulness in order to keep in the game shortly after the restart. Heitinga switched off and played the visitors onside as they embarked on one of their many quick counter-attacks, and Andreas Weiman went clear through on goal with only Howard to beat. Fortunately he blazed his shot high into the Gwladys Street, but it was only a temporary reprieve.
Weiman turned supplier next, sending in a glorious cross for Benteke to climb above Heitinga and plant a defiant header into the net. It looked a long way back for the Blues. Moyes had seen enough. Oviedo, a left back, was asked to deputise at right back as Heitinga departed, and Nikica Jelavic was introduced for Mirallas.
The second change seemed unpopular with the home support, but they quickly had something to lift their mood. Anichebe used his strength again to hold-up the ball in the area and combine with Fellaini who rifled home a deflected shot.
The Blues started to press, asking questions of Guzan with a series of corners and Jelavic produced a good reflex save from the Villa goalkeeper. But the relegation-haunted Midlanders were defending heroically with the clock ticking down. A defeat that would have undermined Everton’s ambitions was looming, but six minutes of injury time provided a ray of hope.
Villa are pathologically unable to defend corners, and fortunately Baines saved his best for last.
Fellaini climbed highest from the left-back’s succinct delivery and headed home at the Park End to salvage something from a difficult afternoon. If there’s one thing that Everton have proven this season it’s that they’re resilient in the extreme.
But they’re going to need all that spirit and more to out-muscle Tottenham in the chase for the Champions League.
Cutting out their tendency for self-inflicted wounds would help too.
