In a game that for the main part will be considered fairly forgettable, one particular incident will be remembered for years to come - Wayne 'Golden Boy' Rooney's fall from grace as referee David Elleray showed him the red card for a horrific challenge on Steve Vickers.
Following a cruciate ligament injury to Olivier Tebily, Bruce was forced to draft in fit-again Michael Johnson at left back, with Jeff Kenna switching to right back. Vickers continued in the absence of Darren Purse, whilst Paul Devlin came in for Clinton Morrison - who allegedly turned up late. Devlin occupied a right wing role as Jovan Kirovski was pushed up front alongside Geoff Horsfield.
The first half - or most of it - was full of passion and endeavour from both sets of players, but lacked any real quality. Blues had the better of the possession but failed to create any clear-cut opportunities, whilst the visitors struggled to get the ball, yet created slightly more when they did have it, in particular when Lee Carsley headed wide following a Joseph Yobo throw-in that was flicked on unchallenged by Kevin Campbell. The decision to not compete in the air with Campbell on several occasions in the first half, by both Vickers and Kenny Cunningham, was a little baffling, considering most of the time they did compete, they beat him in the air, and each time they left him to it, he flicked on towards the ever dangerous Tomasz Radzinski.
Indeed, it was the pacy Canadian Radzinski who made the breakthrough in the game, just moments before half-time. Thomas Gravesen played the ball forward, and as the Blues defenders looked for offside, the former Anderlecht man nipped in to close in on Nico Vaesen and drive the ball home - despite Vaesen's best efforts.
As the Everton fans celebrated, and the Blues fans left their seats in a despondent manner to get their half time teas and chicken balti pies, Blues hit back immediately. Stan Lazaridis had come on just minutes earlier for the injured Damien Johnson, and he took full advantage of an error by the over-rated Yobo. The Nigerian defender misjudged the flight of the ball, and Lazaridis got on the end of a hopeful ball from the back. The Australian winger then crossed superbly to the un-marked Kirovski who headed the ball expertly into the top left hand corner of Richard Wright's net to level matters just seconds before the interval.
The second half continued in much the same way as the first had - until the two goals. Blues squandered ample possession by creating little or nothing, whilst Everton looked to hit on the break. Lazaridis tested Wright from a long range free-kick, and Devlin shot over from 20 yards out, as Campbell continued to battle against Vickers at the other end.
Halfway through the second period, David Moyes introduced Rooney to the fray, replacing Everton's most dangerous player in Radzinski. It was to be a brief appearance for 17 year-old Rooney, however, as just 14 minutes later he was dismissed by Elleray. Following an Everton ball upfield, Vickers controlled the ball, before Rooney dived in with both feet, high at Vickers' ankle. It certainly warranted a red card, though Blues were frustrated in that they'd already used three substitutions, and the ever-unlucky Vickers was unable to walk following Rooney's stupid tackle, and consequently we were left with ten men versus ten men. There had proven to be no advantage.
Blues pressed slightly harder for a winner, though never looked like getting one, whilst Everton appeared to settle for a point. If the truth be told, this game was fairly drab apart from first half injury time, and Rooney's little indiscretion which will be talked about on Sky Sports for the next week as suddenly people begin to wonder whether this incredible young talent is really a little thug - or something like that.
One thing worth mentioning, however, is that David Elleray did an excellent job refereeing the game. He produced cards only when they were warranted (I'm sure the most ardent Evertonian would agree that Rooney deserved his fate) and let the game run at a fairly high tempo, with tackles flying in. Whilst Blues fans will never forget Elleray's temporary blindness at the Millennium Stadium two years ago, this performance was far, far better than anything else that Blues have encountered of late.
Worryingly Blues have real injury problems now prior to Saturday's trip to Old Trafford. With Vickers lucky to have a leg left at all, it is crucial that Purse is fit again, or else we may see a inexperienced and possibly exposed back-line of Kenna, Johnson, Cunningham and Sadler at Manchester United and Elland Road on New Years Day. Following that, however, Ferdinand Coly and (hopefully) others will add to numbers in the ranks, and hopefully aid Blues as they seek to cement their Premier League position.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Vaesen - Ok, but poor kicking and throwing
Kenna - Looked more comfortable back on the right
Johnson, M - Ok defensively, poor offensively. Not bad for his first game back.
Cunningham - Slightly more errors than usual
Vickers - Sound until his untimely departure from the game
Devlin - A real threat until he went up front late on, when he faded
Johnson, D - Adequate until injury
Cisse - Quietly effective
Savage - Ditto Cisse
Kirovski - Excellent finish, and looks promising
Horsfield - Good all round play, but poses no goal threat whatsoever
SUBS:
Lazaridis - Flitted in and out of the game, but superb cross for the goal
Morrison - Looked as if he'd just woken up
Hughes - Wasn't able to get into the game