Birmingham City 0-2 Everton: Roger Johnson Own Goal And Late Tim Cahill Strike Seals First Three Points For David Moyes’s Side

Everton’s season could be given the shot in the arm it so desperately craved following their first win and away goal this term.

A Roger Johnson own goal started the ball rolling for the visitors before Tim Cahill sealed the victory in the dying moments. But more promising for David Moyes’s side was the fact they showed no signs of nerves.

Last season, Everton had a similarly unconvincing start but the long list of injuries, twinned with Joleon Lescott’s prolonged transfer to Manchester City, were sufficient reasons for their early jitter.

But this term Everton have boasted a near fully-fit squad and without any behind-the-scenes distractions, it was puzzling to understand why they had failed to win in their opening six games.

Everton started bright and full of confidence. Both teams approached the match with a lone striker and an attacking midfielder close in tow, but the combination of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Cahill just behind appeared to work early on as the visitors created a series of chances.

Birmingham have turned St Andrews into a fortress since their promotion to the top flight in 2009, and having lost only two at home last season, David Moyes’s side always had a difficult task of gaining all three points from the tie.

But the hosts struggled to get a grip on the game and while Cameron Jerome’s hold-up play was adequate enough, Birmingham’s newly acquired midfielder, Alexander Hleb, was unable to support the striker, which left City with limited chances in the opening half.

The best opportunity for Alex McLeish’s side came just under the half hour mark as an error from Sylvain Distin allowed Jerome through on goal but while the forward’s control was excellent, his composure wavered and subsequently the effort screwed wide of the post.

Everton responded immediately and could have gone in front but for Liam Ridewell’s vital block on the line from Yakubu’s effort.

David Moyes’s men had a penalty shout turned down soon after as Leighton Baines was one-on-one with Sebastian Larsson outside Birmingham’s area. The full-back attempted to go round the outside of the City midfielder as he dribbled into the box but was brought down. There was definite contact, however. Phil Dowd waved away the protests from the players in pink.

Everton piled on the pressure after their penalty claim was turned down and Yakubu, whose influence in attack grew as the half progressed, set up Leon Osman for a chance. But while the midfielder’s turn got him free from the defender, his shot lacked finesse and failed to trouble Ben Foster.

As the interval drew near, City pepped up, and a buccaneering Stephen Carr down the right flank found enough space to cross, but Birmingham’s failure to commit men forward into the attacking third cost them once again as the only sole figure in a blue shit occupying space in Everton’s box was Jerome, who failed to make any connection on the pass.

Everton continued whether they left off before the break and City were put under heavy pressure once again. The combination of Yakubu and Cahill proved a constant threat to Birmingham’s back line.

Just under ten minutes from the restart, the visitors were rewarded for their intent as they look the lead. Following an interchange of passing between Baines and Osman on the left wing, the midfielder fizzed in a low cross which was met by City defender, Johnson, who attempted to cut out any threat but sliding interception took the ball past Foster.

Referee Phil Dowd turned down another penalty claim moments later, this time it was the home side who were appealing as Carr had advanced from right-back Carr and having received a through ball from Lee Bowyer, the defender was clipped by Baines.

McLeish immediately changed his tactics following Everton’s first away goal of the season and pushed Bowyer into an advanced role alongside Hleb to aid the increasingly isolated Jerome in attack. As the reached the 70-minute mark, the Scot threw on Nikola Zigic, as the absence of a clear-cut chance had frustrated the St Andrews faithful.

But City’s attacking changes slowly began to influence the game and Hleb began to see more of the ball and subsequently his impact on the game was increasingly significant. His cross set up Scott Dann, who in turn set up Bowyer, but the midfielder’s acrobatic effort went wide of the post.

Despite the late surge by the hosts, Everton managed to hold on to the lead and a late trademark header from Cahill sealed matters. The victory has lifted Everton from the bottom of the Premier League and could well be the catalyst to start their season.