Wayne Rooney grabbed the headlines again on Sunday when he came off the bench to score the only goal of the game to give Everton a 1-0 win over Birmingham at Goodison Park.
It was the teenage striker’s third goal in four matches and took his tally for the season to four and his short Everton career haul to 10.
After starting the Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United, Rooney was once again relegated to the substitutes’ bench by boss David Moyes and it is a tactic that is paying dividends –the 18-year-old has come off the bench now to grab vital goals in his past three appearances as substitute.
Duncan Ferguson had the ball in the net inside the first minute, diving forward to send a header crashing past Taylor from Gary Naysmith’s deep cross, but a linesman’s flag brought the celebrations to a speedy end.
Birmingham hit back when Bryan Hughes brought a good save from Nigel Martyn before Stern John then headed over another chance in the first half.
Tomasz Radzinski almost opened the scoring when he brought a strong save out of Taylor from a cross by Alex Nyarko.
Ferguson, who was handful for the Midlanders’ defence all afternoon, Radzinski and Rooney all had headed chances before Taylor was forced into a fine save after Hibbert and Rooney had set up Kevin Kilbane.
The only goal arrived on 69 minutes. Naysmith’s corner swirled into the box, Ferguson and Alan Stubbs went up with Taylor, and many referees would have penalised them — but not Rob Styles, who allowed the ball to bounce down for Rooney to lash home.
Rooney almost had a second soon after but Taylor beat away a 22m drive. — Sapa-AFP