Everton 0 Manchester City 0

Last updated : 07 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Everton's scoring problems continued as they drew 0-0 in a dreadful game against Manchester City.

Both teams contributed to the poor play that was served up to a packed Goodison Park.

A miserable first half saw little in the way of talent, skill or invention as both these sides are on a dreadful run and on the evidence of this game it's easy to see why.

Nobody wanted to keep hold of the ball instead deciding to gift it to the oppostition.

Wonderkid Wayne Rooney was one of the worst offenders. Playing being the front two of Francis Jeffers and Tomasz Radzinski his role was to provide ammunition for David Moyes' misfiring strikers.

Instead he just seemed to get in the way and Everton's only real effort of the first half came when Alan Stubbs bypassed the midfield and fired a long ball up to Jeffers.

With three in the box and only David Seaman to beat, the on-loan striker fired into the sidenetting.

The home side had most of the possession for the first 30 minutes until City started to come into the game.

Nicolas Anelka was the driving force, setting up chances and having shots himself.

His first was an effort through David Unsworth's legs that rolled wide. Next he crossed a wicked ball into Trevor Sinclair's path, but his shot was easily saved.

And when the half-time whistle came it was a relief to the watching crowd.

Moyes decided to shake things up bringing on James McFadden for Rooney and Kevin Kilbane for the lacklustre Tony Hibbert.

But it did little to lift the game as time and time again the two teams ran out of steam in the penalty box.

Everton's first effort of the second half came from a McFadden free-kick in the 64th minute.

Kilbane fired in the shot, but it was cleared off the line by Everton old boy Richard Dunne.

With ten minutes to go the two sides decided to start playing football and in the 85th minute Thomas Gravesen had the perfect chance to clinch the game.

A long clearance fell to Radzinski whose searing pace saw him race clear on the right wing. He cut the ball into the box for Gravesen who was one on one with substitute goalkeeper Kevin Ellegaard.

His weak effort beat the keeper but not the post.

In the next minute Robbie Fowler could have put his side in the clear when he was free in the Everton box, but he wanted too much time and the threat was easily dealt with, leaving the game ending 0-0.