Here is what a selection of the national media had to say about Saturdays derby day draw.
The Mirror
Everton 2 2 Wigan
Wigan may be 10 quid down on Andy Johnson, but Chris Kirkland's emergence from his years of injury hell suggests there could still be a surplus on their summer transfer trading.
While Scharner shades the man-of-the-match award for his stealthy midfield running, Kirkland was equally impressive. But after spending so much of the last four years on the treatment table, being able to play was pleasing enough for the England keeper, never mind his fine display.
Kirkland's form at Goodison suggested that he can become an England squad regular if he can remain fit. Mind you, he may have been facing another lay-off but for sympathetic refereeing from Alan Wiley.
The Independent
Johnson shows worth but Everton fail to live up to hype
All week the blue half of Merseyside, buoyed by the 3-0 demolition of Liverpool, had anticipated going top of the Premiership. It was Everton this, Johnson that, and the opponents were almost an irrelevance. "I was glad to look in the programme and see we were playing," Paul Jewell said only half in jest, "because Wigan Athletic didn't get a mention all week."
Nevertheless the tactical honours went to Jewell, who had only 16 fit players, some of whom were out of position, and had to endure the sight of Johnson getting his fifth goal in as many matches.
The Sun
Everton 2 Wigan 2
CHRIS KIRKLAND has hardly enjoyed the best of fortunes over recent seasons.
Yet if what we saw on Saturday is a pointer, his luck has changed for the better at long, long last.
Kirkland saw his hopes of making it at Liverpool wrecked by a series of niggling injuries, which kept that long-awaited England debut on ice for so long.
But since moving to the Latics, on a six-month loan which is likely to become permanent in January, fate is definitely making up for lost time.
The Wigan keeper delivered another awesome display to clip high-flying Everton's wings — and immediately admitted he should have been sent packing after a crazy rush of blood.
|
