WICKED WICH AS WIN GOES WEST

Much-wanted victory in penultimate game at Goodison Park snatched from Blues’ grasp but celebratory farewell continues

- By JOE THOMAS

BEFORE the chaos, the emotion and, ultimately, the frustration, Liam Delap stood in the middle of the Goodison Park pitch and took in the magnificence of his surroundings.

Standing in the centre circle, the 22-year-old savoured all four stands as he broke from a cluster of teammates and walked down the tunnel alone. There is no secret the striker is coveted by David Moyes and when, an hour later, the Grand Old Lady burst into an emotional, tears-in-the-eye explosion of ticker-tape, tifos and flags, he saw the very best of an incredible club.

Over the following 90 minutes he was provided with an example of some of just why so much work is needed at Everton. Moyes enters this summer with much to do, including the improbable challenge of convincing Delap to ignore the glamour of some of alternative offers to become the face of the summer rebuild.

This was not all bad. When Dwight McNeil rifled in from 25 yards to double Everton's lead after 35-minutes the hosts looked set to run away with this. Beto had already glanced in Carlos Alcaraz’s cross and the home team appeared set to put on a display that was befitting of the spectacle of the occasion.