It’s not enough to be good, you have to have a share of luck now and again too. Luck is something that deserted us some time ago; its evil cousin, bad luck, getting its feet under the table in short order. Today, good fortune appeared to briefly return when Jermaine Beckford’s thunderous shot ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and was adjudged not to have crossed the line.

While Everton protested, Brad Friedel spotted the opportunity to move the ball up to Darren Bent and he made no mistake putting the ball past Tim Howard to grab the lead for Villa. A double-whammy for Everton, then.

Unfortunately, and perhaps inevitably, that lead was only held for 15 minutes before Jean II Makoun was harshly adjudged to have fouled Jagielka in the box and Michael Jones pointed immediately to the spot, Everton’s first penalty of the season I believe. Well, that would make perfect sense.

Leighton Baines made no mistake, bringing his side back on terms at 2-2 and that’s how it would remain when the final whistle was blown on what was probably yet another entertaining game from the Villa for the neutral observer, but nerve testing experience for those of us with a vested interest.

It started reasonably brightly. The starting line-up hinted at the possibility of the 4-4-2 many fans had called for, although Albrighton’s lack of inclusion would predictably be cause for complaint. Houllier teased us initially, Gabby started briefly on the left, but switched with Ashley Young after only a few minutes.

Everton created a few nerve jangling chances during early exchanges, Brad Friedel showing good form to keep the scoreboard unchanged, but it was Villa who demonstrated the greater quality in build up play. Albeit without actually giving Tim Howard anything to be concerned about, the attacking intent in the final third seemingly just a little blunted.

It was Everton who took the lead after Bilyaletdinov leapt on some slack ball control from Kyle Walker, feeding Leon Osman who scampered into the box. After wrong-footing James Collins, Osman’s shot beat Dunne’s desperate lunge and had just about enough power on it to find its way into the net despite Friedel getting a glove on it. All too typical really, a goal somewhat against the run of play, late in the half, springing from an individual error.

Second Half

There were no changes at the break, but Villa appeared to have a greater air of determination about them and if Houllier had simply asked his side to get Downing on the ball more often, playing as he was with some real class, it paid off quickly.

Downing broke down the right, skipped into the box, as he had done several times during the match, but this time was able to find Darren Bent with a simple square ball and he did what he does best; instinctively blasting the ball past Howard.

However, to their credit, Everton pushed back and Beckford’s “goal”, when it came, would have capped a period of pressure. As it was though, the ball was nestling the back of the net at the other end and Villa were celebrating the lead while the Everton players were still wishing goal-line technology existed.

Finally that little slice of luck that’s eluded us for so long.

But it wasn’t to be. Jean II Makoun may or may not have got the slightest of touches on Jagielka; I’m not sure one way or another at this stage, but the referee gave it without hesitation. A make-up call? Quite possibly.

Our luck couldn’t last forever. More than 15 minutes might have been nice though.

Spirit

Overall, for me, the spirit was there, the character was there, the players had a good go at a tough opponent today. Yes, Everton are injury ravaged; they had to include several reserves on the bench today, but the eleven who started the game are all first team regulars and were never going to be easy to beat at Goodison Park.

Everton played a very high line and might have been punished with a little more guile from Bent and Gabby, who were caught fractionally offside more than once. Everton did a good job squeezing a lot of space out of the middle of the park, leaving little room or time for the likes of Makoun to thread the ball to the danger men; Ash and Downing.

For that, they deserve some credit, it might have been easy to feel a little sorry for themselves and shrink into their shells. They didn’t, but neither did our boys after a disappointing end to the first half. The rot has hopefully been stopped, a run of losses has been put to bed, we can now focus on the next one; Newcastle.

The visit of the Geordies to Villa Park is obviously hugely significant on many levels, but there will be plenty of time to discuss that in the coming days. For now, I, for one, am going to relax a little and try some of that breathing I’ve heard so much about.