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EVERTON v MIDDLESBROUGH - ALL THE MATCH STATS
After the thrashing of Manchester United last weekend, Steve McClaren will be in no doubt that a trip to Goodison gives the side an excellent chance to complete back-to-back victories for the first time in thirty-five Premiership matches.
The last time was just under a year ago when we beat West Brom away and Liverpool at home between 14th and 20th November. Ironically, the last time Everton achieved successive League victories, in April this year, Manchester United were one of the victims. Crystal Palace were the other.
Boro return to Goodison eleven days after knocking Everton out of the Carling Cup, courtesy of a Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink winner. As last season, this match follows a Thursday UEFA Cup tie and Boro are searching for their third win in eleven Sunday matches following UEFA Cup action.
Incidentally this Sunday's clash pits the clubs to have fielded the fewest - Everton - and the most players in Premiership action this season.
Boro's only win in the last seven Premiership visits to Goodison was a 2-0 win on 14th May 2000 when Brian Deane and Juninho got the goals. Three of the subsequent five visits have been lost, with the other two drawn.
Everton are on a high after holding champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw and winning 1-0 at Birmingham. The Toffees are seeking a first home league victory of the season and a fiftieth over Middlesbrough home and away.
Despite recent results, David Moyes' side have still made their worst start to a Premiership season since Mike Walker was in charge eleven seasons ago. They have racked up just 28 points from 28 Premier League matches in the whole of 2005. They've won just two of ten top flight matches this term, scored three goals, and lost six of the last eight.
They go into the weekend with the bluntest attack in the top division, averaging one goal every five hours. Defeat tomorrow could see Everton at the bottom of the table.
Tomorrow's referee is our old mate Mike Riley of Leeds. Should be OK then.
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