Everton claimed three vital points in their bid to avoid the drop from a
fierce Goodison Park battle that saw six bookings and the dismissal of Leeds
defender Lucas Radebe.
Amid the mayhem of an X-certificate first half, Don Hutchison and Duncan
Ferguson scored priceless goals to ease Everton's relegation troubles.
With Barnsley and Bolton also winning, the importance of this victory to
Howard Kendall's side cannot be under-estimated.
With Leeds trying for a UEFA Cup place, much was at stake, so it was not
surprising that a clash between two sides with such poor disciplinary records
would see them going for each other's throats from the kick-off.
The match, particularly the first half, was little short of brutal as
Sheffield referee Uriah Rennie struggled to keep control.
Everton, with Dave Watson, Mickael Madar and Richard Dunne left out of the
side who drew at Spurs the previous week, had problems containing Leeds, for
whom Harry Kewell was outstanding, in the early minutes.
The Aussie youngster created a great chance for Gunnar Halle in the first
minute, the Norwegian heading wide from just six yards.
Then, five minutes later, he fired in 20-yarder that Thomas Myhre spilled for
Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink to sidefoot wide of an empty net.
But Everton pulled themselves together and were ahead after 10 minutes. John
Spencer hooked the ball back from the line, Michael Ball fired in the cross and
Ferguson laid the ball back for Hutchison to drive home his first goal since
joining the club in February.
The real trouble started when Radebe was booked for a 14th minute foul on
Nicky Barmby.
Three minutes later the South African cut down Hutchison and hurt himself in
the process, but while Rennie waited for the medical team to load the big
defender onto a stretcher, he waved a second yellow card and then a red one.
Rennie did not help his cause by failing to penalise Peter Beagrie for a late
tackle that left David Wetherall in a heap.
Leeds opted for their own retribution and Lee Bowyer and Hasselbaink gotaway
with nasty fouls on Carl Tiler, while Gary Kelly lunged two-footed into
Beagrie.
But Rennie did caution Bowyer and Everton's Gavin McCann, as well as Robert
Molenaar for a trip on Ferguson.
From the 38th minute freekick conceded by Molenaar, John O'Kane lifted the
ball into the box and Ferguson powered home Everton's second.
Both Leeds boss George Graham and Kendall then appeared on the touchline to
complain about Rennie's decisions as the first half threatened to boil over.
It almost did in the 44th minute, when Molenaar brought down Ferguson in the
box, but the Everton captain was booked for diving. The half-time whistle came
at just the right time to defuse the situation.
The second half was mild in comparison, with O'Kane the sole booking for a
foul on Kewell as the players managed to control themselves.
Despite being down to 10 men, Leeds still managed to produce the best chances
of the half.
The unmarked Hasselbaink headed over in the six-yard box from Kewell's cross
and then missed another centre from the Aussie when he arrived seconds too late
at the far post.
Beagrie fired in two long-range shots that worried Nigel Martyn and the
England keeper saved brilliantly when a Spencer shot was deflected wickedly off
Alfie Haaland.
Martyn also saved superbly at his near post when substitute Madar got through
on the right.
By then, Kendall had withdrawn Ferguson - who is carrying a knee problem - and
Barmby to save them for Monday's game at Wimbledon.
Teams
Everton: Myhre, O'Kane, Short, Beagrie, Ball,
Ferguson (Madar 73), Hutchison, Barmby (Farrelly 73), Tiler,
McCann, Spencer.
Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Dunne, Oster.
Booked: McCann, Ferguson, O'Kane.
Goals: Hutchison 10, Ferguson 38.
Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Radebe, Wetherall, Hasselbaink, Bowyer,
Halle, Kewell (Lilley 87), Harte, Hiden, Molenaar (Haaland 45).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Hopkin, Jackson.
Sent Off: Radebe (17).
Booked: Radebe, Bowyer, Molenaar.
Att: 37,099
Ref: U D Rennie (Sheffield).
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