City

Terrible day. Terrible match, terrible performance and the whole thing overshadowed by the appalling cruciate injury sustained by Phil Jagielka in the second half which not only rules him out from the FA Cup Final, but in all probability, for the next few months.

Jagielka's injury came out of the blue as he chased a ball back towards the half-way line. There was nobody else in sight but it was obvious from Jagielka's reaction as he lay on the pitch that the damage was significant. The news in detail emerging today is both bad news for the club but even more bad news for Phil Jagielka on a personal level as will miss out of (possibly) his biggest day in football later in May. Jags has been Everton's most consistent performer this season, if not the best. His application and constant ability to learn quickly when thrown in against the Premiership's best forwards is a credit to his attitude. I've seen him caught out twice all season and I can't say that I can recall a time when he's been found wanting against the same opponent twice. He got the run-around from Torres in the home derby but there was not repeat in the three matches a few months ago. Same with his experience against Ashley Young. In addition he's made the England squad on a few occasions.

Let's hope Jags makes a swift and successful recovery.

Centre-half is actually an area at the club we have a good deal of strength in. Lescott, Jagielka and Yobo are all good players. Yobo and Lescott were a tight unit until Jags came through last season. They'll now be responsible for containing Drogba and Anelka in May.

Fair play to Moyes for (still) refusing to moan about our injury blight. We've now lost three first-11 players for the season in the shape of Jags, Arteta and Yakubu. Throw in Anichebe, Valente, who are also gone for the season and the lengthy time lost for Vaughan and you have a small squad stripped bare. It's a credit to the rest that we've managed not only to compete but do so very successfully.

I hope that City was a blip. Very possibly a case of After The Lord Mayor's Show, or a game too far. It would be a shame if the season dribbled away now. We've got a series of tough matches left leading to Wembley on May 30th.