The man who made an overdue England debut in November – and who Moyes suggested afterwards is absolutely deserving of adding to his cap collection – also epitomised the resilience of his team in the composed and calculated manner in which he banished thoughts of his contentiously disallowed early goal and the home strike which hastily followed, to patiently and cleverly work a way back into the game. Such a succession of events could have led to a ‘not our day’ attitude, particularly with the Hammers’ support reaching their vocal and intimidating peak and the rain lashing down on a miserable afternoon.
Not far behind Osman in terms of his contribution was the magnificent Steven Pienaar. The South African’s departure to Spurs with his contract nearing its end in January 2011 was another kick in the teeth for a support who adored the wingers’ mesmerising style, and incredible link-play with Leighton Baines. Fortunately for Toffees, Pienaar was remarkably underestimated and under-appreciated in North London and his second coming at Goodison has been pivotal to the club’s improved fortunes.
Indeed, the 30 year-old is arguably even better this time around. While his ability on the ball was eye-catching and often thrilling during his initial spell at the club, Pienaar’s end product has improved, as has, almost impossibly, his devastating on-pitch understanding with his left-back.
While these two diminutive and artful players provided the telling class in the victory at the Boleyn, there was no absence of the grit and fortitude so prevalent in any Moyes team. Sylvain Distin stood up manfully to the physical forward threat posed by Sam Allardyce’s side, who sought to expose the less sturdy John Heitinga with a succession of high balls towards the menacing, and noticeably improving, Carlton Cole.
Phil Jagielka was willing, and admirable in his tenacity, filling in at right-back – both defending assuredly against Matt Jarvis and seeking to get forward at any opportunity. Phil Neville is not the most loved of players on the Goodison terraces, but his contribution in the middle of the field in stemming the threat of Kevin Nolan was invaluable.
Alongside Neville, Darron Gibson continued his distinguished record of not having tasted defeat in a league fixture since his January arrival (the former Manchester United man started the 1st September defeat at West Brom but was forced off early). That feat is no co-incidence. The only spell in which the Blues have stuttered during this season occurred during Gibson’s absence. The Irishman’s restoration to the Toffees’ engine room, where his fantastic range of passing and defensive responsibility dictate the tempo of much of his side’s play, has sparked their recent stellar run of results.
To watch a complete midfield performance you need to go back only two weeks for Everton’s home fixture with Spurs and Gibson’s talismanic contribution to a vital 2-1 triumph.
In contrast to his team-mates, Nikica Jelavic endured a miserable afternoon in East London. The Croatian, whose presence has finally given Moyes a clinical finisher at the cutting edge of his side – something the Scot has only previously enjoyed during the early part of Yakubu’s Everton career – lacked his usual calmness in the penalty box and, notwithstanding his wholehearted effort, was unable to provide a reliable outlet for his team. It is a mark of Jelavic’s ability that on a trying afternoon personally, his movement and undoubted threat ensured the Hammers’ backline was unable to switch off for a second.
The importance of an ultimately deserved three points for the Blues was firmly placed into context as, elsewhere, Arsenal, for all the recent uncertainty at the Emirates, won their third league match on the trot, while West Brom re-awoke from a mini-slump to beat Norwich. With Spurs only drawing at home to Stoke, four sides now reside on 30 points. It is an indication of the acutely fine margins in that part of the table, that if Everton had left Upton Park with a hard-earned draw they would have reached Christmas Day, for all their promise and capability, in seventh place and with a two point deficit on three rivals.
There is no let-up now in the need for the Blues to maintain their more clinical form. Encounters with Wigan, Chelsea, and Newcastle United will all offer stern tests in which the powerful mindset and accompanying belief that was so essential at West Ham must be to the fore. All Evertonians fingers will be steadfastly crossed in the hope that Gibson’s daft late red-card is overturned and Pienaar’s late withdrawal was no more than a precaution. Without a satisfactory resolution to those situations, Saturday at the Boleyn could yet prove to be the most pyrrhic of victories.
What cannot be disputed is that if Moyes and his growing cast of stars are to achieve all their ambitions at Goodison Park, and consequently reward one of the most loyal, patient, and passionate supports in English football with tangible joy, Everton are entering a defining five months. Indeed, it is a period which could shape the future of a grand old club.
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