SOCCER: Everton 1 Birmingham City 1:EVERY NOW and again injuries work to a team's advantage. Last night they benefited two sides. Debilitating as the number of casualties at Everton and Birmingham City are, the mass absenteeism was the direct cause of both goals.
Jean Beausejour, who only moved into an advanced role when David Bentley limped off, put Birmingham ahead. John Heitinga, deputising for the sidelined Phil Neville, levelled for Everton. If the point does little for the hosts’ European hopes, it extricates Birmingham from the relegation zone. Whatever pre-match plans David Moyes and Alex McLeish had hatched were soon subject to a rethink. Both midfields had been reconfigured and they were soon in need of further rejigging. Bentley had already signalled to the Birmingham bench he needed to come off when, sprinting on the left wing, Mikel Arteta pulled up.
Bentley’s departure had a benefit. Beausejour was relocated from the left flank to act as the support to striker Cameron Jerome. From his central role, he rose to meet Jordan Mutch’s cross with a header that beat Tim Howard.
Birmingham’s lead lasted 18 minutes. Jerome stuck out a leg to half-clear Leon Osman’s corner and the ball fell to Heitinga. From 20 yards, the Dutchman hit a shot that sailed into the top corner.
Before then, the closest Everton had come was when Stephen Carr almost scored an own goal after a swipe at thin air from Jermaine Beckford. After it, they threatened more. Ben Foster had to be alert to hold Seamus Coleman’s diving header. Coleman, who came on for Arteta, gave Everton some impetus with driving runs. One culminated in a fierce shot that missed the far post, another in a tug by Liam Ridgewell that earned the defender a caution.
Referee Peter Walton had earlier waved an imaginary yellow card at Mutch, giving the impression he had forgotten to pack the tools of his trade. Once located the cards came out with increasing frequency.
Birmingham were being pegged back as Everton attacked with greater intensity. Saha headed over the bar and had an effort blocked bravely by Mutch. The pressure from Moyes’s men continued, with Foster parrying a shot from Beckford and tipping an effort from Osman over the bar but Everton were unable to get the goal that would have brought a third successive league win.
GuardianService
EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Heitinga (Bilyaletdinov 86), Osman, Arteta (Coleman 9), Rodwell, Saha, Beckford (Anichebe 78). Subs not used: Mucha, Mustafi, Duffy, Baxter. Booked: Heitinga.
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Foster, Carr, Ridgewell, Johnson, Jiranek, Bentley (Murphy 8), Larsson, Bowyer, Mutch, Beausejour, Jerome (Zigic 73). Subs not used: Doyle, Phillips, Martins, Parnaby, Davies. Booked: Mutch, Ridgewell, Murphy.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
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