According to David Moyes, the cliché that is “Everton start slow” is not to be relied upon as his side plot yet another recovery ascent up the Premier League table. And that may be so, but that cliché is fast becoming a truism, and one they needed in this game, to come from behind late and take all three points from Wolves.
The Toffees' England connection sealed it, with goals either side of the break from Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines completing a comeback after Stephen Hunt’s first half penalty gave Wolves an early lead.
To say it was international know-how that saw the Blues home and hosed may be a little wide of the mark. More useful might be a look at the lack of top level experience in referee Jon Moss’ locker, just two games, as Everton benefited from a soft penalty decision which settled matters in the 83rd minute.
With Wolves having only just ended their winless streak of eight games last time out, and the Toffees themselves in the midst of torrid form, seven losses from their last eight, that both teams began proceedings at Goodison looking slightly bruised was understandable, if uninspiring.
Caution is one thing, but the procession of 60 yard punts being slung over play by the boots of Jagielka and Berra is quite another. It took until 17 minutes for the first chance to be carved when Tim Cahill knocked down a deep cross for Louis Saha whose snap shot was well tipped over by Hennessey.
That so little was happening could go some way to explaining the opener, when it did come for Wolves on 36 minutes. Marouane Fellaini, so lauded by his manager for his ‘silky feet’ in midweek, stuck a clumsy leg out to needlessly trip David Edwards inside the Everton box. It was a lack of concentration which could have been induced by watching the ball sail over his head so many times, it was a wonder the Belgian didn’t have tennis neck.
Hunt blasted his kick down the middle to send the visitors into the lead and their fans into raptures.
Evertonians may have felt the beginnings of a long hard afternoon at that strike, but their response was swift and it was forged by two players who were the source of so much pride to their the club in midweek. Baines arced a freekick into the path of England teammate Phil Jagielka who headed home to restore parity and, perhaps, a little optimism in the Blue seats.
Buoyed by the counter punch, Everton began to show the kind of ambition their talented ranks are capable of in the closing stages of the first 45. Drenthe’s blistering run on goal was halted by a superb Christpohe Berra challenge before what looked like a stonewall penalty was waved away by Moss. Cahill, trying to reach the rebound of a saved Fellaini strike, appeared to be hauled down rugby style by Karl Henry.
Everton took that injustice into the second half with a tempo which was business-like and Wayne Hennessey did well to reach a through ball before Baines, who was released by a glorious Osman pass on 50 minutes. Their momentum was halted for a lengthy period though when Richard Stearman had to be guided from the pitch with what looked like a dislocated shoulder.
In his programme notes, Moyes bemoaned the lack of luck his team have seen in their endeavours this season, “the bounce of the ball” he said, had eluded his side. On 70 minutes it looked like staying that way, Coleman outstripped George Elokobi to feed Louis Saha who fed Cahill four yards from goal, his net-bound toe poke struck the thighs of sliding Stephen Ward before nestling in the arms of Hennessey, to the disbelief of the Gwaldys Street end.
If lady luck eluded the Blues then though, she would return in the nick of time. Jon Moss, who had refused the protestations of jumping strikers all day, blew for an Everton penalty when Stephen Ward nudged Louis Saha from a Drenthe corner and it was Leighton Baines who stepped up to complete an England international double, sending the hosts home with a full compliment.
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Everton: Howard, Baines, Heitinga, Jagielka, Hibbert, Fellaini, Drenthe (Bilyaletdinov 85), Coleman, Osman, Cahill, Saha (Stracqualursi 90)
Subs: Mucha, Bilyaletdinov, Stracqualursi, Gueye, Barkley, Vellios, Mustafi
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Hennessey, Stearman (Elokobi 59), Edwards (Fletcher 86), Henry, Ward, Hunt, Johnson, Berra, Milijas (Jarvis 80), O'Hara, Doyle
Subs: Elokobi, Craddock, Ebanks Blake, Fletcher, Jarvis, Dr Vries, Guediora
Goals: Hunt (pen) 37, Jagielka 44, Baines (pen) 83
Att: 33, 593
Ref: J Moss
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