Eto'o tries to whip a free kick goal ward, but it fails to clear the first man. Stoke break upfield as a result, but Crouch doesn't have the pace to penalise the home side. Adam then appears to kick the ball away to waste time, but the referee lets the Scottish midfielder off. I'm not too sure why, that should have been his second yellow!
90' +2
P. Crouch enters the game and replaces M. Diouf.
90' +1
There are four minutes of stoppage time at Goodison Park. Adam has managed to hurt Mirallas, with the Stoke substitute clumsy clashing with the Belgian winger - but he gets back to his feet fairly quickly. Hughes opts to make his final change, with Crouch replacing Diouf for the dying minutes.
90'
C. Adam gets yellow.
Fantastic tackle from Pieters! That's saved the three points for Stoke! Naismith is picked out in a pocket of space deep in the away side's box, before looking to turn and shoot! As he draws back his boot, the Netherlands international slides in to make a fantastic sliding challenge!
89'
Barkley tries to dance across the edge of the 18-yard box, but is promptly robbed of possession. The home side are maintaining their pressure but appear to have no means of penetrating the Potters' lines. Not long remains, but Stoke are tiring.
87'
Walters hacks another clearance upfield, with Stoke having all hands to the defensive pump as we edge towards the 90-minute mark. There are some tired legs in red and white shirts, but they're dragging themselves towards the finish line. This would be a valuable three points for Hughes' men!
86'
Less than five minutes remain before stoppage time, with the home crowd sitting very uneasily in their seats. Another free kick is flighted into the box, before Pieters heads clear. Stoke are sitting very deep in the dying embers of this game, with blue shirts streaming forward and populating the edge of the area.
84'
Mirallas breaks to the right byline, before clipping a good cross into the box, but Naismith is unable to stretch enough to make contact! Everton are still trying to find the elusive equaliser, but Begovic has only been forced into pretty routine saves all afternoon.
83'
G. Cameron gets yellow.
Barry clips a free-kick delivery into the Stoke box, but the away side clear once again. Cameron is then booked for wasting time with his throw in yet again, meaning that the American international can't be making any risky challenges in the last five minutes or so of normal time.
81'
Mirallas whips in a corner, which Alcaraz is unable to turn towards goal. Naismith claims the rebound, but is robbed of possession in the box tidily by N'Zonzi. The Potters are looking well on course to a rare clean sheet. Adam shoots from the edge of the box, but Stones makes a good block.
Minute
Description
80'
N'Zonzi is back to his feet after receiving treatment in the wake of Barry's bookable offence. Lukaku unleashes a good effort from 25 yards out, but Begovic is able to make a save and then smother at the second attempt.
78'
G. Barry gets yellow.
Walters tries to go down claiming a foul on the right-hand side, but is quickly back to his feet after perhaps remembering that he's already on a yellow card. Narrowly over ten minutes of normal time remain, with Barry the latest man to pick up a yellow card.
76'
O. Assaidi enters the game and replaces M. Arnautović.
Assaidi is allowed to take to the field, with fresh legs high on the agenda for a Stoke side that have done a lot of good chasing - with Arnautovic the man replaced. The Morocco international looks a little bit cold as he jogs on, he will have to get moving and warm pretty quickly!
75'
Coleman tries to overlap down the right-hand side and receives possession, but Arnautovic tracks back fantastically to deny the Irishman a chance to cross. This has been a team effort from back to front for Stoke this afternoon. Begovic then takes his time to take his goal kick.
73'
N'Zonzi fires wide! The Frenchman drives from deep, with no blue shirt coming out to meet him, allowing him an attempt from range. Robles gets down to his right-hand side, but the ball zips beyond the far upright anyway, without the need for a touch.
71'
Baines cuts inside once again, but the Englishman is halted by a solid tackle from N'Zonzi. Barkley is now sitting slightly deeper for the home side to allow Eto'o relative freedom. The substitute appears to be playing directly off of Lukaku.
69'
S. Eto'o enters the game and replaces J. McCarthy.
McCarthy is the deeper player sacrificed by Martinez, with Eto'o added into the offensive mix. If that isn't a clear sign of a side who are going on the prowl for an equaliser, then I don't know what is. The former Barcelona man is immediately involved, but Walters does well to intercept a through ball from the Cameroonian.
67'
C. Adam enters the game and replaces Bojan Krkić.
Barry tries to stab a through ball between right-back and central defender for Mirallas to chase, but Shawcross reads the play well to intercept. Stoke opt to make their first change of the afternoon, with Adam replacing Bojan, perhaps showing Hughes' intent to make his side a tad feistier.
66'
Pieters whips in a cross from the left-hand side, but it flashes beyond everyone and Robles is happy enough to let it zip out of play for a throw in on the opposite flank. Eto'o appears to be readying himself on the touchline for the home side.
65'
Arnautovic and Walters are doing good jobs in wide areas to peg back Everton's fullbacks. The England international does manage to scamper inside, however, before trying to pick out a through ball to Naismith which is blocked. The former Wigan defender strikes the rebound first-time, forcing Begovic to parry, before Cameron coolly turns and clears Stoke's lines.
63'
Lukaku tries to break down the right-hand side, but Muniesa marshals his man, before the Belgian misplaces his next pass. Stoke are looking incredibly comfortable, with Everton only mustering up attempts from range or set pieces. The former Chelsea man shoots from 20 yards, but it's straight at Begovic who collects.
61'
Everton whip in a corner towards the near post, but Naismith and Lukaku are unable to turn the ball into the back of the net. The Scot's attempted header deflects wide, with the resulting corner headed high and wide of the target by Alcaraz. The away fans cheer sarcastically.
60'
Stones is looking very uncomfortable on his feet, with Distin perhaps now being mustered to warm up on the sideline. Nothing is going right for the home side this afternoon and they just might rue the referee's decision not to send off Walters in the first half.
58'
Baines clips a through ball over the top for Lukaku to chase, but Cameron tracks his man and Begovic is quick off his line to slide in and kick clear. Everton might just have to start looking longer to Lukaku, as their normal style of play just isn't getting any joy this afternoon.
57'
Everton are not looking like a team capable of turning this scoreline around, with arguably their best offensive tools, Baines and Coleman pegged back too deep. Their confidence appears to be shot at, with the home crowd dissatisfied and the Toffees incapable of stringing more than three passes together.
55'
Good clearance from Alcaraz! Walters sets the ball back to Cameron, who delivers a teasing cross which Diouf can only head downwards. Stones fails to clear his lines, leaving the half-time substitute to blast the ball away. Stoke are pressing forward!
53'
Everton continue to enjoy the lion's share of possession, but the Toffees just aren't going anywhere with it. It's all well and good that Martinez's system helps retain the ball, but ultimately the hosts are producing nothing. Arnautovic flashes a cross in from the left, but Diouf heads over.
51'
Bojan spreads play out to the right-hand side, but Walters' cross in towards Diouf at the back post is easily cleared. Stoke recycle the ball, with N'Zonzi delivering a low cross, but the Frenchman's pass deflects off Barry and behind for a corner. Muniesa receives the ball at the near post, but the former Barcelona man sends a drive high into the stands.
49'
Everton control the ball in the opening exchanges, but Stoke are more than happy to stand off and sit deep to retain their shape. Hughes' men have remained very disciplined. Naismith is nearly picked out by a cross from deep on the right-hand side from Stones, but Begovic is quick off his line to smother the ball.
47'
Martinez is forced into two changes at the interval, with Alcaraz replacing Jagielka and Joel Robles taking his place in between the posts instead of Howard. Not an ideal start to what needs to be a much-improved 45 minutes.
46'
Joel Robles enters the game and replaces T. Howard.
A. Alcáraz enters the game and replaces P. Jagielka.
We are back underway at Goodison Park! There's a bit of snow in the air, with the home crowd giving the referee a rather frosty reception themselves! Everton need to change things around if they're to get three points today.
45' +10
Arnautovic tries his luck from distance, but the Austrian can't keep it down and that is that for the first half of play! Howard appears to have pulled a muscle in his leg and is helped to limp off the field of play.
45' +9
Cameron looks to waste as much time as possible while taking a throw in on the right-hand side, infuriating the home fans even further. Stoke definitely aren't here to win any friends, merely points! Naismith picks out Mirallas at the back post with a wonderful pass, but the Belgian slides his finish into the side netting! That should have been the equaliser!
45' +7
Arnautovic works his way down the left-hand side well, before looking to feed Diouf! Jagielka comes across well to pressure the former Molde striker, who is forced into blasting an improvised attempt well wide of the near post. Chants of "Arnie!" fill the air from the travelling Potters' faithful.
45' +6
Stoke look to calm things down by retaining the ball at a slow tempo. Arnautovic is fed down the left, before Stones makes a good block to deny the Austrian winger a chance to deliver a telling cross. The resulting corner is headed clear by Naismith, of all people. A cross from N'Zonzi then takes a wicked deflection, but Howard makes the save, before Jagielka hooks the rebound away.
45' +5
Barry and Bojan go down, with the former looking to turn his ankle, possibly adding further seconds onto this first-half marathon. Everton continue to press, with Lukaku and Naismith exchanging a one-two on the edge of the box, but Shawcross slides in brilliantly to make a vital interception!
45' +3
Coleman tries to cut an pass back to Lukaku, but the Belgian has the ball robbed from his boot! The loose ball is recycled by Barry, before the former Man City midfielder curls an attempt towards goal that Begovic smothers with ease! The conditions aren't helping the Stoke goalkeeper here.
45' +1
Begovic makes another blunder! The Bosnia international fails to make good contact with a punch, allowing for Naismith to head an effort goalward, but N'Zonzi is positioned well on the line to clear! Everton are turning the screw in this lengthy stint of stoppage time.
45'
Barry breaks to the byline, before whipping a cross in towards the near post, but Lukaku is only able to send a looping header wide of the target. Begovic looks to claim, but spills the ball behind for a corner under no pressure. There will be TEN minutes of stoppage time.
44'
Diouf tries to race in behind the hosts' back four, but the former Hannover man is caught narrowly offside - not that it would have mattered anyhow. The Stoke forward slipped over, losing a boot in the process, meaning that he receives rather negative attention from the home fans as he slowly puts it back on under the watchful eye of the referee.
43'
The away fans are making plenty of noise and will remain in a jolly, festive mood should the scoreline stay the same. Everton attempt to break down the right, but Arnautovic tracks back brilliantly to defuse the situation. Both sides are enjoying counter attacks, but nothing in the way of maintained pressure.
41'
Less than five minutes of normal time remain until the break, with Whelan managing to avoid a caution once again, despite clipping Naismith. This ground is a smouldering cauldron of unease, but Everton don't deserve to be ahead on the basis of play. Walters' possible red card is most definitely the talking point.
39'
Bojan and McCarthy have something of a disagreement off the ball, with the two shoving one another! The Everton players are losing their focus somewhat, with the former Wigan midfielder absolutely incensed to have a penalty given against him! Stoke won't mind one bit, they're enjoying a solid away performance thus far.
38'
Penalty goal scored by Bojan Krkić for Stoke City!
GOOOOOOOAL! BOJAN MAKES IT 1-0 TO STOKE! The Spanish forward slides a finish into the bottom-left corner, as Howard guessed the right way but couldn't quite get there! The away side are ahead and Goodison Park is not happy with the referee whatsoever.
37'
PENALTY FOR STOKE! Bojan beats McCarthy for pace down the left-hand side, before breaking to the byline. The Spaniard dances around his marker before appearing to have his heels clipped just inside the box. There was definite contact, but the home crowd aren't happy!
36'
Walters picks up a yellow card, but Everton are claiming it should have been red! The Republic of Ireland international hauls down Baines as the Englishman looks to break through on goal and it's hard to argue that it wouldn't have been a definite goalscoring opportunity!
35'
J. Walters gets yellow.
Ten minutes remain until the end of normal time, but we could be playing here until next Christmas, if there are any more injuries! McCarthy tries to slot Lukaku in down the right-hand channel, but Pieters comes across well to put the ball into touch. The Belgian is then denied on the edge of the box by two good blocks in quick succession.
33'
What a miss from Barry! The Englishman is picked out in plenty of space at the back post, but can only stab an attempt away from goal rather than trying to slot a finish beyond the helpless-looking Begovic! Two great chances in the past minute for the Toffees! The home crowd roar their encouragement!
32'
Just wide by Mirallas! The Belgium international is picked out at the corner of the 18-yard box, before hammering a venomous effort at goal! It takes a nick off a defender and zips past the near upright and behind for a corner!
31'
The opening half an hour has seen very little in the way of football, let alone chances. Bojan and Diouf have had the better of the limited opportunities, with Everton unable to get going offensively. Baines and Coleman just haven't got involved whatsoever.
29'
Good effort from Bojan! Stoke work the ball from right to left smartly, before the former Barcelona man is picked out on the flank. He jinks inside Coleman and races inside, before unleashing a powerful strike from 25 yards out. It dips over the crossbar with Howard happy to watch it sail into the stand behind his goal.
28'
S. Naismith gets yellow.
Bojan is now caught by a very clumsy tackle by Naismith, with the Scotland international clattering through his man after the ball had zipped past him. The Everton forward complains, but that is a whole new definition of wasting your breath. A certain foul and a deserved caution.
26'
Arnautovic is in some discomfort, after a rather naughty tackle from Barry, where the former England international got plenty of the ball but also plenty of the man. The Austrian winger is able to limp off under his own steam, but that's a couple of additional minutes to add onto the already gargantuan total.
25'
Baines whips in a teasing corner delivery, but Naismith rises and is beaten to the ball! Stoke break as a result, but Bojan is quickly robbed of the ball by Barry, much to the delight of the home fans. Suddenly, the game springs into life with end-to-end action. Arnautovic now goes down! More stoppages.
23'
Well, this definitely hasn't been a thriller so far! The ball has spent just as much time dead as it has live, with Stoke really able to disrupt Everton's usual possession-based style. The Toffees haven't been able to have a telling spell of pressure in an advanced area of the field.
21'
Walters is given his final warning of the afternoon, with Jagielka now requiring treatment, as the flow of the game is fractured even further. The Stoke forward pushes his opponent to the floor and then falls onto the Everton defender. This game continues to be less about the football and more about clumsy challenges.
19'
Jagielka is now caught by Whelan, with the Republic of Ireland international throwing himself into plenty of firm tackles in the opening 20 minutes. Everton are pushing players forward, meaning that interceptions in the midfield third are leaving two-on-two situations in the Toffees' back four. Coleman and Baines provide little defensive protection.
18'
Neither team are building up any continuous pressure, with both sides giving away the ball in midfield far too cheaply. This game hasn't had anything of an ebb and flow, with both teams unable to retain possession for long enough to pose their opposition damaging questions.
17'
Barkley now leads the field of play, with the young Englishman having continuous problems with a nosebleed. He is quickly patched up by a host of medical staff, but Everton are forced to continue with only ten men for the time being.
16'
Stoke are clearly set up to play on the break, with Bojan already linking up with Diouf fairly well to set the lone striker on his way in behind the opposition defence. Lukaku, meanwhile, has seen very little in the way of service, with the Belgian pressing without reward.
14'
Stones puts in two tackles in quick succession to deny Diouf and N'Zonzi, but Stoke keep on the pressure. Cameron drives down the right, before whipping in a decent cross, but Bojan is unable to crane his neck enough to steer a header on target.
13'
The young centre-back appears to be willing to continue, who returns to the field with a slight limp - Everton fans will hope the Englishman can run off his knock. There will be plenty of stoppage time at the end of this half already, that's for sure. Both goalkeepers are yet to be forced into any kind of uncomfortable action, with possession being surrendered needlessly and with frequency.
11'
After being firmly challenged by Whelan, Stones goes to ground and appears to be in some discomfort. The young Englishman has had his fair share of ankle and knee problems and it appears the former Barnsley man won't be able to continue. It was a fair tackle, but the physios are giving Stones a thorough once-over.
10'
There have been no chances as of yet, with the majority of the action taking place in the midfield third. Mirallas is nearly able to drive in behind Pieters on the right-hand side, but the Dutchman intercepted. Stoke then break, but Diouf is unable to make the most of two gilt-edged chances after being set away by Bojan. Jagielka and Howard make timely interventions.
8'
Both players rejoin the fray, with play finally back underway after a lengthy stoppage. Stoke get their foot on the ball for the first time of the afternoon, but Everton are keen to press high upfield and force mistakes. The Potters' back four don't look wholly confident in possession.
6'
After liberal amounts of tape and bandaging, the Stoke player appears keen to carry on - he isn't one to feign injury. Martinez uses the break in play to call over a couple of players to give them further instructions. It appears that the Englishman wants to continue regardless.
5'
There's now to be a break in play, due to a sickening collision between Shawcross and Lukaku, with the former back to his feet rather quickly. The Belgium international caught the defender accidentally in the temple, with a wound opening up immediately. The physios are straight onto the field.
4'
Everton are enjoying the majority of possession in the early stages, with the tempo being kept rather slow and ponderous. Jagielka is forced into a hurried clearance after a cross in from the right-hand side, before the ball is recycled and Stones is made to hook a delivery clear of the danger area seconds later.
2'
Everton claim for a penalty in the opening couple of minutes, but the referee isn't interested! Bojan is caught in possession high up the field by Mirallas, before the winger bursts into the box and gets the wrong side of Muniesa. Despite falling to the ground, there didn't appear to be much contact.
1'
The ball is rolling in the first half! After a minute of applause things are ready to get underway! Everton are in their customary blue, with the away side in their red and white striped jerseys.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Everton vs Stoke City, in part of today's vast array of the Premier League's Boxing Day action! Both outfits have only managed one win in their last five competitive fixtures, with Roberto Martinez's side flying much higher in the Europa League rather than domestically. Only two points separates them, with the coming year representing opportunity to push themselves out of mid-table mediocrity and towards the higher reaches of the division.
I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from Goodison Park, as Mark Hughes' travelling outfit attempt to upset the apple cart with a festive victory. Two strong elevens have been named by both coaches, which should mean that we are in for some top-flight entertainment this afternoon. At home, the Toffees are unbeaten in their last six outings, leaving Stoke with plenty to do if they are to take three points away with them.
TEAM NEWS: John Stones starts at centre-back alongside compatriot Phil Jagielka, with Sylvain Distin dropping to the bench. James McCarthy and Gareth Barry provide the defensive midfield shield, with Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas being given license to roam in wider areas due to the support of both Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman from wing-back. Romelu Lukaku is the lone target man for Martinez's side.
TEAM NEWS: Marc Muniesa partners Ryan Shawcross in the centre of the Potters' defence, with Geoff Cameron slotting in at right-back. Glenn Whelan and Steven N'Zonzi will look to break up play and feed counter attacks, with plenty of pace in advanced areas. Marko Arnautovic and Jonathan Walters flank the Spanish flair of Bojan Krkic, with the mobile presence of Mame Biram Diouf selected to lead the line alone.
HALF TIME! Stoke head into the Goodison Park dressing rooms with a slender 1-0 lead, courtesy of a penalty converted coolly by Bojan. The Potters have looked dangerous on the counter, but the real talking point is whether Walters should still be on the field of play. The Republic of Ireland international hauled Baines down to deny a goalscoring opportunity, but only saw a yellow card brandished towards him by the referee! The home crowd aren't happy, that's for sure, so be sure to stick around for the second half!
FULL TIME! Stoke take a much-needed three points home from Goodison Park, courtesy of a fantastic defensive performance which gifts the Potters a rare clean sheet. A penalty conversion from Bojan proved to be enough for Hughes' men, with Everton continuing to really struggle in the Premier League. Another uninspiring performance from the Toffees.
Boos ring around Goodison Park, with Stoke enjoying a solid performance, but plenty of the onus falls upon the referee! After failing to send off both Walters and Adam, the home fans have every right to feel slightly aggrieved. The Toffees continue their awful record without a comeback win! I've been Simon Harrison and I hope to see you again next time!
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