• Pictures: the best images from Saturdays Premier League gamesPerhaps only a man as innately optimistic as Roberto Martínez believes Everton can qualify for the Champions League now but they never give up. Just when Cardiff seemed to have procured an unexpected point at Goodison Park, Seamus Coleman scored a 93rd-minute winner for Martínezs men. The finish was fluky but, after being frustrated by the heroics of Cardiffs outstanding goalkeeper David Marshall, Everton may argue the result is not. And, no matter how it was secured, it was their seventh successive win at Goodison Park.Cardiffs wretched away form – they arrived at Goodison Park on a series of seven straight league defeats on the road – may have prompted their unorthodox approach. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit upon a revolutionary strategy of fielding a midfield diamond in front of a back five. If the incorporation of a third central defender was intended to bring added solidity, Cardiff could have been two goals behind inside the first four minutes.First Kevin Mirallas bent in a shot that David Marshall, maintaining his excellent form, tipped past the post. Then Cardiff allowed Leighton Baines corner to bounce in the six-yard box and Steven Caulkers hurried clearance struck Romelu Lukaku and almost rebounded into Marshalls goal.Having survived those early alarms, Cardiff came into the game more. The Liverpudlian Craig Noone had flourished as a winger in last weeks win over Fulham. Redeployed at the tip of the diamond, he was elusive. A mazy run culminated in the ball bouncing into the path of Fraizer Campbell, who had a clear run on goal, but Tim Howard saved the shot.Nevertheless, it was an isolated attack as Cardiff defended deep and invited pressure. The Everton attackers were more prominent, even if a propensity to sky shots undermined several forays forward. When Mirallas steered a lower effort towards goal, Caulker flung himself in the way to deflect it away for a corner.Juan Cala, one of his central-defensive colleagues, frustrated Everton, too, with a challenge on Gerard Deulofeu that left his fellow Spaniard on the ground. His dramatic tumble did not convince the referee Roger East, who ignored his entreaties for a penalty. Marshall, with another smart stop, was the next to deny Deulofeu a breakthrough. The goalkeeper made a still better save when Lukaku veered infield and unleashed a fierce shot.Solskjaer had abandoned his original formation in favour of 4-5-1. He was fortunate still to have 11 players at his disposal. Kévin Théophile-Catherine seemed lucky to escape with a yellow card for a reckless, late challenge on Gareth Barry. Campbell had two opportunities to make the most of his team-mates reprieve and put the visitors ahead.A second City player flirted with a red card when Gary Medel went head to head with Leon Osman. Neither was quite guilty of the full Pardew, however, and the referee East settled for a caution apiece. The Everton captain regained his composure quicker, flicking a pass into Deulofeus path. The Spaniard spun away from Medel, accelerated into the box and let fly with a shot that took a telling deflection off Caulkers heel to beat Marshall.With Steven Pienaar sidelined for several weeks with a knee injury, Deulofeu has a chance to a first extended run in the Everton team. This was a promising start.Yet it was not a match-winning contribution. Nine minutes later, substitute Peter Whittingham curled in a free-kick and Cala opened his Cardiff account in inelegant fashion, the ball bouncing in via his knee and his ribs.Marshall made two magnificent saves, from Lukaku and Barkley, to deny Everton a winner. Then, somehow, Coleman scored one, skewing and miscuing a shot in after Barry headed Aiden McGeadys cross back into his path.Premier LeagueEvertonCardiff CityRichard Jollytheguardian © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 17:46:28 +0000
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