Osman's Drive Keeps the Everton Bandwagon Rolling

It was difficult to judge who looked the more astonished. The Norwegian stewards as a 10-year-old Evertonian leapt over an advertising hoarding to spark a mini-pitch invasion on the final whistle or the Norwegian supporters as Brann suffered a potentially calamitous result from a largely lifeless Everton display. David Moyes simply looked sheepish when the locals asked if this was a fair scoreline. Deep down, he did not care a jot.

The business end of the season has commenced for Everton and a 2-0 triumph at the home of the Norwegian champions represented a sterling night's work for their manager. Hugely flattering it may well have been, but with a date in the last 16 against Rosenborg or Fiorentina beckoning Moyes headed home with further proof of his side's development on the European stage thanks to fine goals from Leon Osman and Uefa Cup talisman Victor Anichebe. "I wouldn't say we have made progress in this tie yet, the job is not done," insisted the Everton manager.

Pre-match odds that made Everton overwhelming favorites proved misleading. Everton made a measured start against a side in the midst of their close season, and their struggle to gain a foothold in the game promised an encouraging night ahead for the visitors. A shocking first-half performance from Moyes' side, however, soon squandered that invitation.

Of the 11 selected in a supposedly adventurous formation only Phil Jagielka, Tim Howard, the recalled Yakubu Ayegbeni and Andy Johnson performed anywhere near the level required of a team with designs on the Uefa Cup before the interval. The rest gave the impression that they, not Brann, had been without a league game since November 4 last year. Dreadful distribution, with captain Phil Neville the chief culprit, half-hearted midfield challenges and a casual approach typified by the injury-restricted Manuel Fernandes gifted the initiative to Brann.

While Everton were dominant in terms of possession, they created next to nothing with it. A first minute snap-shot from Yakubu and an intelligent strike by Osman, clawed away by the hand of Norwegian goalkeeper Hakon Opdal, was the sum product of the visitors' first-half ingenuity. In stark contrast Brann were a potent force whenever they ventured forth.

Azar Karadas wastefully headed the home side's first opportunity of the night over, from a free-kick ridiculously conceded by Fernandes when he left a trailing back-heel in front of Petter Moen, and Jagielka twice intervened intelligently inside his own area to deny the centre-forward and strike partner Thorstein Helstad. When they did break through in first-half stoppage time, Howard having dropped Jan Solli's corner over his goal line, Brann's delight was extinguished for a clear foul on the American goalkeeper by former Leeds United midfielder Eirik Bakke. Whereas Everton lacked a natural winger able to bring creativity and supply to their four-man midfield, Brann possessed such an outlet in Moen.

Embarrassed by Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup and out-classed by Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, Everton faced a serious threat to their one remaining chance of silverware here. Mercifully for Moyes' ambitions this season, he was able to conjure the transformation in attitude and application required.

Fernandes clearly took receipt of a Glaswegian rocket during half-time and brought a semblance of quality to Everton's passing, though he also remained a liability on occasion, and Tim Cahill served notice of the improvement to come with a 25-yard strike that Opdal tipped on to a post. Although the eventual margin of Everton's victory was a stunning surprise.

Osman was first to polish a difficult night's work with an exquisite volley beyond Opdal from the angle of the Brann penalty area. A rare, intricate move involving Yakubu and Johnson ended with a headed clearance from the Norwegian defense. The return from the Everton midfielder, scorching across the Brann keeper and into his bottom corner, was outstanding. Though Karadas should have done better with an unmarked header at the back post, the home side were kept comfortably at bay by a vastly improved Everton defense thereafter. Two minutes from time, Anichebe applied the most flattering of coups de grace.

The young Nigerian forward has emerged as his club's talisman in the Uefa Cup this season and his fourth in the competition, all scored as a substitute, forged a hugely impressive scoreline out of a modest display. Joleon Lescott delivered a superb low cross behind the Brann defence from the left and Anichebe prodded home from close range. "I couldn't have asked for a better result, it is a terrific scoreline," said Moyes. "And I think we deserve a lot of credit for coming here and beating the Norwegian champions in their own ground."