CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Everton v Wimbledon 28/12/96 3.00

Everton                 (1) 1 Wimbledon               (0) 3 FT
Stuart 23                     Ekoku 59
                              Leonhardsen 70
                              Gayle 76

Wimbledon underlined their Premiership title credentials with an emphatic victory at Goodison Park.

Joe Kinnear's side were humbled by Aston Villa in their last match casting doubts about whether they could stay the course in the title race.

But they showed against Everton that when the chips are down they are at their best.

Wimbledon trailed to a goal from Graham Stuart, only to battle back in the second half and secure the points.

Marc Hottiger made his first start of the season for Everton, who were without five regulars because of injury and illness.

The Swiss international was called into action after just five minutes when he made a timely interception after Oyvind Leonhardsen tried to release Efan Ekoku.

Everton should have taken the lead after 12 minutes following a fine cross from Stuart. He picked out Paul Rideout in the penalty box but he miscued his shot.

The ball fell kindly for Nick Barmby, only for the England midfielder to hoist his effort into the crowd.

Wimbledon hit back and keeper Neville Southall, skipper for the day, had to react quickly to turn away a header from Leonhardsen.

Everton made the breakthrough after 23 minutes with Stuart getting his fifth goal of the season.

John Ebbrell split the Wimbledon defence with a fine through ball and Stuart broke away to steer his shot beyond keeper Neil Sullivan.

The Wimbledon No 1 then did well to tip over a header from Rideout from Stuart as Everton stepped up the pace.

Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson should have extended their lead after Barmby had picked him out with a delightful cross.

Ferguson had only Sullivan to beat but sent a soft header into his arms from only six yards.

Wimbledon looked a different side in the second half and Southall was forced to make two marvellous saves in quick succession.

Norwegian international Leonhardsen whipped in a 20-yard effort that took a deflection off Vinnie Jones.

But Southall got down quickly to scramble the ball away then made another superb reaction save a minute later when Neil Ardley fired a shot in.

Wimbledon were taking the game by the scruff of the neck and went ahead with two goals in 11 minutes.

Ekoku pulled them level after 59 minutes when he headed home a corner from Ardley with Everton central defender David Unsworth getting a flick-on.

Leonhardsen got his reward for his industry when he put Wimbledon ahead in the 70th minute with a goal that has become the club's trademark.

Scotland Under-21 international Duncan Jupp played a long ball forward into the penalty box and Leonhardsen acted quickly to beat Southall.

Everton suffered a further blow six minutes later when Marcus Gayle rounded Southall for a marvellous third goal after Leonhardsen and Ekoku had linked up.