A match that marked a milestone for Everton was another step on the road towards stardom for a starlet. Let's hope it proves to be the nadir for Venables' Leeds. We started badly and deteriorated. A midfield that was stripped to the bone was still apparently too good to accommodate David Batty, we had two fullbacks on the bench and our goalkeeper was man of the match. At home.

False dawn

I was feeling strangely optimistic approaching this match. The match against Hapoel Tel Aviv, though not a classic, had demonstrated some improvement. Despite starting slowly we played better than we had for a while and deserved the win. We scored only one goal, but managed to keep a clean sheet. Perhaps it was for this reason that even allowing for our recent relegation form and the relatively unfashionable nature of the opponents our fans filled the ground. Any advantage that this display of loyalty might have given us was lost in a wave of sporadic chanting in support of the absent Batty and apathy that indicts the. A flat end to dismal day.

Where's the midfield?

For much of the first half the team at least endeavoured to be creative. The frustrating thing about the way the team is currently playing is that at times it is possible to see what the manager is trying to achieve. Our best football this season has been all snap and crackle. Think only of the goals we scored against West Brom and Birmingham and we can convince ourselves that we follow a team on the up. If only it was true. On paper Everton's midfield should have been no match for Leeds. The fundamental difference is confidence and aggression - not so long ago they were the hallmarks of our squad.

Everton looked like the team who expected to win. Every challenge was a cruncher, every header a sure fire winner. Although Woody was again outstanding at the back, Robinson was the reason we were level at the interval. He is the only player currently advancing his reputation. Although individually our defenders are not playing badly, collectively they are under protected and overrun. Lucic looks limited, Mills seems to be tired and Lucas is nearing the end - none of which would matter if the team played in the opponents half. Against an enthusiastic but limited team, this was not the case. The sad fact is that through a combination of ill-judged selection and a lack of form, our midfield is simply not in games.

Half time

The only chance we managed to fashion in the first period saw Barmby put through on goal. True to form, he managed to mess the chance up to such an extent that he not only fell over, but he was booked for diving. The dreary boos that greeted the interval were neither unexpected or undeserved - but they certainly weren't helpful.

No change

It simply is not happening for Lee Bowyer at the minute. The lad has always given his all out on the pitch but something is definitely wrong. Whether it is a lack of confidence or doubts about his future, try as he might it is not clicking. With the pedestrian Bakke alongside him and Barmby a passenger the second half promised more of the same fare as the lacklustre first.

Robinson matched the useful saves he made in the first half from Carsley and Li Tie with two even better stops from the impressive Radzinski. It is a sobering thought that the last time he played at Elland Road a last minute Bowyer effort helped us through the second stage of the Champion's League. It seems a long way away now.

Take Harte

One of the few plus points of an awful day for Leeds was the second half performance of Ian Harte. Replacing the injured Lucic at half time he was till some way short of his best, but his extra creative abilities added more than the loss of the Swede's solidity took away. Although off form Harte can be a liability, at is best he is a bonus for any team.

Feeding on scraps

There is a tendency to accuse both of our Australian forwards of a lack of effort. Compared to Smithy, Kewell can remind me of Mickey 'I'm not going to head it in case I get a nosebleed' Adams in his late 1980s heyday. Perhaps the knowledge that David Dunn has a younger and better looking Emmerdale girlfriend plays on his mind. Perhaps it is a bind being so talented and so good looking. If that is the case, I can empathise. To give Harry his dues, against Everton he worked his socks off - but all to no avail.

Viduka can be made to look bad because he is not a player who goes foraging for the ball. When the team lacks possession, he can have little impact. What he does exceptionally is hold the ball up. On Sunday, after a bright start he faded from the game. Taking him off, however, made us a worse team. While we are all desperate to see Mickey Bridges back in the first team reckoning, he is not yet ready to carry the attack on his own.

The boy wonder

The national media was understandably full of praise for Wayne Rooney after this cameo appearance. It would be churlish not to admit that this was an impressive quarter of an hour. He is a prospect. I would add only one rider for any Evertonians who have stumbled upon this piece - he is not going to become any stronger or quicker. If he is to grow into a star, he must learn to be a bright footballer. I wish him well.

Rooney was rightly praised for scoring a good goal but the way the home team defended it said all too much about our performance. Bakke was turned far too easily. Radebe allowed the ball to pass through his legs. Although the strike was powerful and true, it was a soft goal.

Anti-climax

The saddest aspect of this dreadful performance was the absolute acceptance of defeat that enveloped fans and players as soon as the ball hit the net. It did not help that Smith, although clearly injured, was withdrawn immediately after the goal. Our one true fighter left the field as the Everton fans cavorted with their new star at pitchside. Jamie MacMaster must have wondered what he had stumbled into. It is one thing having a bright young thing, but Everton's Rooney has the pleasure of coming on to try and win games while MacMaster has not yet experienced the feeling of being on level terms.

What next?

And so to Sheffield and a Worthington Cup tie that far from being a distraction is now a match to be approached seriously - and with some trepidation. It will not be easy. Venables has much to ponder. Too many players are out of form and position. The Batty scenario is clearly not helping and there is little to suggest an imminent improvement. Over to you Terry.

Teams

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Woodgate, Radebe, Lucic (Harte 45), Bowyer, Bakke, Barmby, Kewell, Viduka (Bridges 68), Smith (McMaster 81).

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Kelly.

Booked: Barmby, Lucic, Bowyer.

Everton: Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Yobo, Unsworth, Carsley, Linderoth, Tie Li (Naysmith 82), Pembridge, Campbell, Radzinski (Rooney 75).

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Watson, Weir.

Booked: Unsworth, Campbell, Wright.

Goals: Rooney 80.

Att: 40,161

 Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).