 AT this rate Everton's resurrection man will be putting his steely forehead through Michael Dunford's door and demanding a new, improved pay award. Not so long ago the munchkins were jamming Goodison's... er... corridor of power to push Duncan Ferguson towards an ignominious exit, having run out of patience and plaster of paris. A prolonged stand-off with manager David Moyes that led to the Scottish striker being placed on property development leave gave birth to all kinds of rumours about loan deals and contract termination for the injury-ravaged rebel. Big Dunc smiled his way through it all, refused to buckle, and eventually snatched a score-draw against the odds. Claims that he was a malign influence were speedily withdrawn and the new Dunc eventually stepped out of the emergency ward shadows to remind people what made him such a favourite with the notoriously hard-to-please Everton faithful. This win showed the old war-horse at his fire-breathing best. He simply terrorised a too-nice Norwich side that hopes to be in the Premiership this time next year. Given their outstanding form in the first division, they'll probably acheive that aim - though their stay is likely to be short-lived if their generally fearful performance is repeated in the top flight. Only a half-time rollicking from manager-of-the-month Nigel Worthington turned them from one of Delia Smith's upside-down puddings into something with a bit more devil in it. For a time they even appeared half-decent until a spot of free-style Welsh wrestling gave you-know-who the chance to put them back in the box labelled application denied. Later, Worthington praised his players for having a go at an Everton team that briefly went to pieces following the substitution of the injured Thomas Gravesen and some tactical miscalculations involving Joseph Yobo and Alan Stubbs Suddenly, Everton's 2- 1 advantage began to look as delicate as spun sugar - The Best of Delia, Page 63 - and only a couple of fine saves from the otherwise frozen Nigel Martyn, plus a crucial interception by David Unsworth, prevented further embarrassment. All this will have perplexed David Moyes after an opening 45 minutes which should have seen Everton four or five goals to the good before the referee's whistle broke the magic spell. Rarely have they attacked so fluently, so purposefully. Crosses rained in, shots and headers came as frequently as the yelps that told you a Fergie header had struck the crossbar, or wondrous Wayne had battered the ball high or wide instead of into the inviting depths of the net. Fortunately, Kevin Kilbane continues to charm and his near-post nod from Gravesen's fine free-kick offered Everton scant reward for what amounted to a siege on the caged Canaries. |