Team: Stejskal, Bardsley, Wilson, Wlkins, Peacock, Yates, Impey, Barker, Ferdinand, Allen (B), Sinclair
Attendance: 17,089
On the back of a 1-0 home win over Blackburn Rovers the previous week, the R’s then travelled to Goodison Park on 20thNovember 1993. Ken Gannon filed the following match report:
‘Howard Kendall was angry and disappointed after watching Everton slump to a new low. The Goodison chief was furious that the smallest home league crowd of the season had been subjected to a dismal display that marked his men down as less than second rate.
And he didn’t pull any punches: “That has got to be our worst performance for a long, long time. We’re here to entertain the public, they are not happy and I’m not happy.”
“Gerry Francis has been talking about blends in his side. I don’t know what ours was. I’ve seen people walking away from the ground after that third goal – and that hurts.”
But Kendall must take his share of the blame for a humiliation that ended in boos for the home side and an ovation for the opposition.
The Blues always looked second-best, too lightweight in midfield and attack, and embarrassed by the skill of the Londoners.
Gary Ablett missed an open goal in the second minute from a free kick, and keeper Neville Southall was the only Everton player to escape criticism and took the chance to bury his World Cup blues.
The big man saved superbly from Les Ferdinand before Rangers took the lead with effortless ease in the 27th minute. Bradley Allen took control of a Trevor Sinclair header, left Ablett on his backside and drilled home a shot.
The Everton fans chanted for Barry Horne, who was surprisingly left out of an under-strength midfield.
But Rangers went on their merry way with Ablett stopping Ferdinand in his tracks and the big striker looping another header over.
Ray Wilkins even had time out from running the game to sign an autograph before he took a corner – it was that type of day for him.
Everton’s best and last chance came in the 51st minute when Peter Beagrie pounced on a moment of slackness before shooting straight at keeper Jan Stejskal.
Within a minute the game was over as Rangers swept forward, Sinclair hit the post and Allen tucked home the rebound.
Plan ‘A’ had not worked, and Kendall sent on Graham Stuart and Barry Horne, pushing Dave Watson upfront and making a staggering eight positional changes in the 58th minute. Rangers just looked and laughed, with Allen being denied his hat-trick twice.
John Ebbrell had a shot from 20-yards just to prevent Stejskal from falling asleep before Rangers put a more realistic score-line on the game.
A flowing move that Everton could only sit back, and watch ended with David Bardsley sending over a cross to Bradley Allen. The super-striker found space, shook off Paul Holmes with the kind of style his famous family are noted for.
It could have been worse as Les Ferdinand just missed out on a wondergoal in the last minute. The big England man went past four men and blazed over the bar to the relief of Southall, but it was a small compensation for a drubbing.
Rangers boss Gerry Francis was overjoyed with what he called “a complete performance” and a timely reminder to soccer’s snipers.
Francis said: “English football has taken a lot of stick in the last few days and much of it I don’t agree with. If anyone had seen us play superbly like that they would realise we can play football. We were top quality. I’m going to enjoy the video of that one.”
Rangers went on to lose 0-1 at Swindon the following Wednesday.
Steve Russell