Football: Danny rides in to Valley of life

Charlton Athletic 1 Everton 2

Kinsella 72 Cadamarteri 45, 73

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 20,043

SO there is life after the Giant Header. Doubtless to their own astonishment Everton demonstrated at The Valley yesterday that there are other effective methods of scoring goals without relying on the aerial power of Duncan Ferguson.

It was hardly a return to the School of Science but it was also far removed from their recent brand of circus football in which Big Dunc featured as the central totem in the Big Top. The moment when Everton offered persuasive evidence that the surprising pounds 7m transfer of the tall, leaping Scot might not terminate all their attacking potential arrived in late injury time of the first half.

John Collins played the ball neatly from defence when a week ago he might have been tempted into a whack up the centre of the field. His careful pass reached Tony Grant who found Michael Ball on the left. A first-time, visionary little chip followed and Daniel Cadamarteri adroitly ran into space, rounded goalkeeper Sasa Ilic and scored from close range. It was a goal which demanded some help from defensive shortcomings but that did not make it any less pleasing to the eye.

Not that this cut much ice with Everton's manager, Walter Smith. He was happy enough to accept three points for the second time in a week but conveyed the impression that his heart was not really in it. "If I'd had the option I would have kept Duncan Ferguson," he said. "We were in a position where we had to sell and therefore we were forced into a different type of football. If that's the kind of football everybody likes and as long as it's a winning type of football then fine."

Smith will bear in mind that whatever the nature of his side's approach and, according to him, the players did it themselves - it was against an increasingly moderate Charlton side. Sustained by passion and novelty early in the season Charlton are discovering that while the Premiership might be low in quality it is still hard on defensive errors.

While Everton were still adjusting their strategy in the absence of the Giant Header, in the first half Charlton might have taken the lead. Andy Hunt headed against a post and pulled another left-foot shot wide and they were further denied by the reflexes of Thomas Myhre, who tipped over a 25-yard volley and then parried a free kick and the resultant shot.

The first goal was Charlton's penance for this and a minute into the second half they almost fell further behind. Ibrahim Bakayoko, who may be the chief beneficiary of Ferguson's departure, went on a long, determined run, resisting all challengers till he reached the box. There Mark Kinsella, presumably unaware of Bakayoko's profligacy, bundled him down. Michael Ball had a chance to become Everton's highest league scorer (with three goals) but put his penalty too close to Ilic who gathered comfortably if alertly to his left.

Without showing many credentials that they had what it took to equalise, Charlton did so in the 72nd-minute. Kinsella's 30-yard free kick was a spectacular affair, searing through the defence and into the bottom corner.

But this was a new Everton. They were ahead again within seconds. Ilic was again at fault, coming for a high ball (well, old habits die hard) and failing to hold it. Don Hutchison flicked it on to Cadamarteri, whose task in scoring was more straightforward this time.

Everton's defence knew far too much to allow Charlton back into the game again and the home side, which cost pounds 2m less than Ferguson alone, knew too little. It was a match whose result probably mattered more to Everton than the style. Their supporters are perhaps too bewildered by events of recent seasons to have noticed. They were too busy calling for the resignation of their chairman, Peter Johnson.

They might have missed Ferguson but they are probably more angry at the way he departed - without referral to the manager. They probably have a point but they might also realise that Everton without the Giant Header are not only more attractive but more proficient.