Some 20 years ago today, Everton survived a late Derby County fightback at Pride Park to herald a new era at the club.
On March 23, 2002, the Blues raced into a 3-0 lead early in the second half but by the time referee Neale Barry blew the full-time whistle, they were relieved to run out victors in a seven-goal thriller.
Although they’d not won in any of their previous seven Premier League matches and had recorded just one success among their previous 13 fixtures in the competition, Everton had defeated Fulham 2-1 at Goodison Park the previous weekend in David Moyes’ first game in charge after replacing fellow Scot Walter Smith as manager.
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However, that was (before coronavirus-induced action behind closed doors) the date on the calendar always destined for a home banker in the Blues’ favour.
Until Josh Maja’s brace inflicted a Valentine’s Day massacre when Everton slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Fulham at an empty Goodison last year, the Blues had won 22 consecutive league games at home to the Cottagers on a run that stretched back to 1959.
The three points collected in the East Midlands though were Everton’s first ever at Pride Park and their first away win in the Premier League since a 2-1 triumph at Charlton Athletic on the opening day of the season back on August 18.
Just as he done against the west London outfit seven days earlier, David Unsworth put Everton on their way with a cool left-foot finish on 38 minutes.
The visitors doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half when Alan Stubbs drilled a howitzer of a free-kick past Swiss keeper Patrick Foletti.
When Niclas Alexandersson popped up at the back post to add a third two minutes later it looked game over but the Rams would rally to make Moyes’ men sweat.
A mere three minutes after the Swede’s strike, Branko Strupar pulled a goal back through a sweetly-struck volley from just outside the area with what was his first touch of the game.
With 71 minutes on the clock, Duncan Ferguson restored the visitors’ three-goal cushion with a well-placed side-footed effort from just beyond the penalty spot after being fed by Alexandersson.
However, another Derby substitute Lee Morris got on the scoresheet five minutes later as he slammed into the roof of Steve Simonsen’s net after Everton failed to clear a Georgi Kinkladze corner-kick and with nine minutes to go, Rob Lee picked out Strupar for a headed goal that reduced arrears even further.
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John Gregory’s side, who were destined for relegation, couldn’t find an equaliser though and the Blues, who would ultimately finish seven points clear of the drop zone, celebrated a result that extended the gap between themselves and the bottom three to four points.
A relieved Moyes said: “The players have not had too many Saturday nights where they can remember winning and now they have had two on the trot where they can feel good about themselves.”
Frank Lampard’s current crop could do with a bit of that now as they return to action on April 3 – away to Moyes’ West Ham United!
