Reasons to be optimistic

Thoughts of being the side best equipped to mount a challenge on the Big Three and Liverpool seem like a pipe dream now.

Work ethic and solid defence are the two foundations of the relative success we've had under Moyes, but the dearth of these qualities shown at Blackburn and indeed most of this season is a massive cause for concern.

So far, we've looked like a team in the Keegan rather than Moyes mould.

Getting retro and going back to the 90s though, a derby game would always be the game to pick us up and forcibly make us raise our game.

There's a lot to lose here, but there's also the massive confidence boost to kick-start (yet again) our season if we get the morale-boosting win.

Particularly for Fellaini, all reservations will be cast aside if he performs anything like he did in his previous games against the red shower.

Expectations from Blues going into this are low, but this is the game where a player can become a hero. Andy Johnson's shortcomings were largely overlooked for two seasons because of his derby heroics.

Given the voodoo curses over Everton, it's nigh on certain that Stevie will get his 100th goal and Robbie 'Nigel Clough' Keane his first goal against us, so we're going to have to get at least three here it seems.

The signs of a partnership have been promising so far, so let's hope that the Yak and Saha compete with each other for who's going to be acclaimed with hero status today.

Word to defenders though - our aim is to put the ball in their net not ours!