The gloom deepens at Everton

UEFA CUP FIRST ROUND, SECOND LEG Standard Liege 2 Everton 1:THE RECRIMINATIONS at Everton began before the season started but now they will grow louder. Out of sorts in the league, out of the English League Cup and now out of Europe after a comprehensive defeat by the Belgian champions, David Moyes's side appear to be out of ideas.

And the manager, who still refuses to sign a new contract, may be running out of patience.

The records will show that this match was settled with goals by Axel Witsel and Milan Jovanovic, which came either side of a scrambled effort by Phil Jagielka, but such was Everton's listlessness they might have lost by far more.

Moyes was left to direct his frustrations at referee Peter Sippel for failing to send off Steven Defour on two occasions - for his angry reaction to a decision that went against him and for a foul on Yakubu Ayegbeni - but did not complain about the penalty that ultimately decided the tie.

A downcast Moyes reflected: "Who says when you come into football management that every year you're going to have a good year? You know you have to earn your right, you have to play well."

Asked to assure supporters he would stay at Everton, Moyes said: "The supporters have known that for a long time."

After the score draw at Goodison Park in the first leg, Everton went into this game knowing they almost certainly had to win to progress, yet there was no urgency in their pursuit of victory. Initially that seemed admirable as they monopolised possession for the first 10 minutes. That their only hint of a chance in that period was a clever lay-off by Yakubu that was intercepted in extremis by Axel Witsel seemed not to alarm them.

In the 11th minute, however, causes to worry became apparent as Wilfried Dalmat twisted past Phil Neville and Leighton Baines before teeing up Dieu Mbokani, who failed to give the move the conclusion it deserved.

The zest and incision of that Standard move were qualities Everton were generally unable to summon, even if Louis Saha did fashion a fine chance moments later, leaving Oguchi Onyewu lumbering in his wake before slicing badly wide from 15 yards.

Saha continued to look menacing in flashes but Everton could not provide him with sufficient service. Mikel Arteta and Tim Cahill were largely stifled by Standard's two deep-lying midfielders and Everton's defence was uncertain what to do about a Belgian attack that quickly shifted from one man to four.

In the 22nd minute Standard demonstrated the cutting edge the visitors lacked. Worse, they did so with the assistance of an Everton defence that, despite the reshuffle by Moyes, remained afflicted by the strange disjointedness from which it has suffered all season.

Defour was allowed to collect the ball 25 yards from goal and size up a shot, which Tim Howard spilled. Jovanovic was first to the rebound and he looped a perfect cross to the back post, where Witsel arrived to stab the ball into the net.

On the hour mark Moyes introduced Victor Anichebe for Tony Hibbert. A blunder from the Standard goalkeeper briefly ignited belief amid the 3,000 travelling fans.

Rorys Aragon Espinoza inexplicably dropped an inoffensive Arteta corner and for once an Evertonian reacted quickest, Jagielka poking the ball over the line for an improbable equaliser.

Everton could not further exploit their good fortune as again the home side cranked up the tempo. Frequently the speedy and tricky running of Standard's wide men made the Premier League players look stodgy.

The decisive goal illustrated the difference eloquently.

The effervescent Jovanovic scorched through the heart of Everton before swapping slick passes with Mbokani and being upended in the box by Baines, who escaped a red card.

Jovanovic, the outstanding player on the night, picked himself to convert the spot-kick and deepen the gloom engulfing Everton.

STANDARD LIEGE:Espinoza; Camozzato, Onyewu, Sarr, Bonfim; Dalmat, Nicaise; Witsel, Defour, Jovanovic; Mbokani. Subs not used: De Vriendt, Goreux, Toema, Mikulic, Benko, Ingrao, Mangala.

EVERTON:Howard; Hibbert (Anichebe, 59), Lescott, Jagielka, Baines; Osman, Neville (Yobo, 80), Cahill, Arteta; Saha (Pienaar, 70), Yakubu. Subs not used: Nash, Castillo, Valente, Rodwell.

Referee:P Sippel (Germany).

Guardian Service