CarlingNet - No 1 for Match Reports

Leicester v Everton 23/11/96 3.00

Leicester               (0) 1 Everton                 (1) 2 FT
Walsh 83                      Hinchcliffe 12
                              Unsworth 52

Nick Barmby again underlined his inspirational worth to Everton's recent revival with a sublime piece of quick thinking which left Leicester 'keeper Kevin Poole bemused and red-faced.

Manager Joe Royle's £5.75million capture of the England international midfielder appears to be a master-stroke of transfer market brinkmanship - and Barmby is repaying that faith by the bucketload.

The club record Goodison Park buy was rescued from his unhappy spell at Middlesbrough's Riverside and the dream move to Merseyside again bore fruition against Leicester as Everton conjured up their second away win of the Premiership season.

Barmby's piece of ingenuity came in the 13th minute after Leicester had been awarded a free-kick for offside just outside their own area and seemingly in little danger of going a goal behind.

Simon Grayson's back-pass to Poole, deputising for Kasey Keller on international duty with the United States, was either stupidly or inadvertently picked up by the 'keeper thinking he had heard Stockton referee Jeff Winter's whistle.

But the alert Barmby quickly realised the advantage was Everton's, grabbed the ball out of Poole's hands and delivered a short pass to Andy Hinchcliffe, who steered a delightful flick shot with the outside of his left boot over the hapless, back-peddling Poole.

Leicester manager Martin O'Neill remonstrated with a linesman, but while the City players looked at one another with complete shock, Everton celebrated their good fortune and Barmby's astute actions.

Everton's industry continued to outshine Leicester's hit 'em and hope attitude as they carved out two golden chances within the space of a few seconds midway through the opening period.

Barmby dragged a left-foot shot wide of the left-hand post and seconds later Gary Speed flung himself full length at Graham Stuart's right-wing cross, only to see his glancing header fly wide.

Wales international 'keeper Neville Southall, reduced to a spectator, was noticed in the first-half only for an injury-time booking for time wasting.

Meanwhile, returning Scottish international striker Duncan Ferguson, in his first start sine September 21 after finally shaking off a troublesome knee injury, also watched the game go by but was at least able to celebrate Everton's second eight minutes into the second period.

Hinchcliffe's corner was met at the far post by the head of Speed and although Poole prevented the ball from crossing the line, David Unsworth was on hand to stab home from close-range.

Leicester, with nothing to lose, threw everything forward and came close to a breakthrough in the 70th minute when Simon Grayson's 25-yard goal-bound piledriver was deflected narrowly wide off the heel of Unsworth.

Six minutes later, the biggest cheer of the day came when linesman M R Simms, who had played a decisive hand in Everton's opener, was stretchered off after a collision with Unsworth.

Cries of ``cheerio'' echoed round Filbert Street and within eight minutes the all-ticket City faithful had further cause to celebrate when skipper Steve Walsh reduced the arrears with a header which left Southall flat-footed.

But despite a last-gasp onslaught, Everton weathered the storm, with referee Winter being booed off at the final whistle and surrounded by a handful of Leicester players who had decided to vent their frustration.