CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Everton v Leicester 09/04/97 7.45

Everton                 (1) 1 Leicester               (0) 1 FT
Branch 17                     Marshall 70

Everton's new player manager Dave Watson was denied victory on his first home game in charge after Leicester City shook off their Coca-Cola Cup final exertions to stage a battling second half comeback.

The win the Merseysiders desperately needed to ease them away from the relegation dogfight looked within their grasp when teenager Michael Branch's second senior goal gave them the lead as they took control in the first half.

But they lost the influential Joe Parkinson to his troublesome knee injury at half-time and in the second half Leicester were unlucky to be rewarded only with Goodison old boys Ian Marshall's equaliser as they took charge, laying siege to the home goal at times.

Everton went ahead after 17 minutes when 18-year-old Branch controlled Duncan Ferguson's knock down from a David Unsworth free kick on his thigh before stabbing home on the turn for an impressive first Goodison Park goal.

The ungamely looking Marshall matched him for skill as he hooked home sweetly from Stephen Guppy's cross to equalise after 70 minutes.

Leicester had carved out the first chance in the eighth minute, Marshall firing wide under pressure after Garry Parker set him up with a deft chip.

Everton swept back down the field and Graham Stuart's cross was punched to the edge of the box by Leicester keeper Kasey Keller as Nick Barmby challenged. Parkinson fired the loose ball narrowly wide.

Within a minute of Everton's goal Parker curled a 20-yard free-kick against the Everton bar after Craig Short had picked up a yellow card for a foul on Emile Heskey.

Then Branch neatly set up Barmby in the Foxes box but Keller palmed the ball away.

Everton were moving the ball around crisply and confidently at this stage and Short was unlucky to see his header from Barmby's free kick pushed against the post and away by the keeper.

The visitors gave notice of their second half revival moments before the break, Marshall hammering a 30 yard power drive just wide.

Neil Lennon volleyed over from close range after 54 minutes and then Mustafa Izzet put a diving header over the bar from the industrious Marshall's left wing cross.

Everton had an astonishing let off after 65 minutes, Elliott heading Guppy's corner against the inside of the post. Southall got a touch on the ball as it rebounded across the face of the goal through a cluster of players and away.

Then Heskey pulled a low shot fractionally wide before Phelan headed off the line from Elliot after 75 minutes.

With Leicester finally showing signs of their extra time heroics on Sunday Everton managed to exert some later pressure but Leicester's well organised defence never looked like conceding the winning goal the Toffees desperately needed.