DESPITE being without at least 10 first team players against BATE last night, a second-half comeback from Everton ensured the wheels did not come off in their European adventure against a former tractor works side.
As a former centre-half himself Everton manager David Moyes could be forgiven for being tempted to dust off his own boots in European competition this season.
A thigh injury sustained in training the night before the game at Minsk’s Dinamo Stadium has denied the Scot of stand-in skipper Joseph Yobo, leaving new recruit Sylvain Distin as his only recognised player in central defence.
Issues with Joleon Lescott during his final days at Goodison Park ensured that Moyes had to use Phil Neville as an emergency centre-back for the 4-0 home win over Sigma Olomouc in the play-off round and the loss of the Nigerian international meant that the manger was forced to move 5ft8in Tony Hibbert over as a makeshift partner for Distin when youngster Dan Gosling also out of position at right-back like he was in the club’s previous Europa League outing against AEK Athens.
HAVE your say on our Blues Messageboard - click