Blackpool 2, Everton 1

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SUMMER, the time of sunshine and relaxation, has become anything but for Everton supporters in recent years. SUMMER, the time of sunshine and relaxation, has become anything but for Everton supporters in recent years. Rather than sitting back and reflecting on another season of encouraging progress from David Moyes and his players, fans have instead been left chewing their nails in the hope none of that good work comes undone.The financial constraints under which Moyes is forced to wheel and deal during the transfer window have become accepted by Goodison followers.But the ongoing success of his team has brought increased expectation and the prospect of some of the Premier League?s supposed bigger fish picking off Everton?s prime assets.So it is with Joleon Lescott, whose head has been sufficiently turned by Manchester City?s riches to declare earlier this week that he wants to leave.If Everton?s supporters are unhappy with Lescott?s stance - and plenty are - they did not let it be known at Blackpool last night.And in truth, there was very little to shout about for those that made the trip from Merseyside to the seaside resort, as an initially encouraging pre-season campaign took another downturn with a disappointing defeat at the Coca-Cola Championship side.The sight of a hobbling Jo being helped down the tunnel by Mick Rathbone merely added another unnecessary concern to what has thus far been a testing week for Everton.The Brazilian?s performance until his injury was by some distance the main positive for Moyes after an otherwise underwhelming display from his charges.In mitigation, Everton had only played two days earlier and are still overcoming any lingering effects of their long-haul journey back from the United States at the weekend.But Moyes will expect a better level of performance from his players when they wrap up their warm-up programme with the visit of Malaga on Friday evening.As against Coventry City on Sunday, Moyes selected a strong starting line-up with the only change seeing Tim Howard replace Carlo Nash in goal.Along with Lescott, both Steven Pienaar and Louis Saha remained absent, meaning the bench was once again packed with youngsters.It served to underline the threadbare nature of the Everton squad with the Premier League opener at home to Arsenal now only 10 days away.The intended arrival of Philippe Senderos from the Emirates would at least ease the pressure on a backline that has yet to keep a clean sheet during pre-season and has sorely missed the presence of both Lescott and Phil Jagielka in recent games.Jack Rodwell is not yet physically ready to step in at centre-back at top-flight level and had another education last night up against a robust Blackpool forward line.Even if Moyes sticks to his guns and Lescott stays put, another central defender is certainly required to bolster the squad.And having been unhappy with his team?s defending in the 2-2 draw at the Ricoh Arena, the Goodison manager will be apoplectic at the backline during the first half last night.Before the game, the Bloomfield Road audience saluted the arrival of new Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, who responded in typically eccentric fashion.And the Tangerines needed just four minutes to forge ahead when David Vaughan burst in between Rodwell and Leighton Baines down the inside right channel and hit a low shot across Howard into the bottom corner.The lead was almost doubled moments later, when an excellent cross from the right by full-back Alex Baptiste was headed against the inside of the post by Jason Euell.Everton eventually settled with Jo, the most promising performer of the summer, again to the fore.The Brazilian shot at Blackpool goalkeeper Mark Halstead before netting the visitors? equaliser on 17 minutes.Halstead could only flap at a Baines corner from the right and, after Marouane Fellaini - who will have benefited from another 90-minute run-out - turned the ball goa

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