Who can catch Everton? Harry Catterick’s team move six points clear of second-placed Liverpool after surviving a bruising afternoon at Highfield Road. Just six minutes remain when Coventry City concede their 24th free kick of the game and Everton pounce. Tommy Wright taps the ball to Jimmy Husband and the winger’s cross is met by the soaring head of Joe Royle, the 20-year-old centre forward. One neutral relieved at the outcome is Geoffrey Green, the Football Correspondent of The Times, who is unimpressed with the Sky Blues’ physical approach. However, he does enjoy the contributions of Everton’s midfield trio of Alan Ball, Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey. “Their collective understanding is instinctive and uncanny,” Green purrs.

COVENTRY CITY: Glazier, Coop, Bruck, Machin (Joicey), Curtis, Blockley, Hunt, Gibson, Martin, Carr, Clements.

EVERTON: West, Wright, Brown, Kendall, Labone, Harvey, Husband, Ball, Royle, Hurst, Morrissey.

Peters and glee for Ramsey

Martin Peters is back for West Ham — and Sir Alf is there to see him. Ramsey is about to name his squad for the match against Holland and needs to know that one of his key midfield players is in the right frame of mind to play after a three-week absence caused by his disaffection with life at Upton Park. The England manager need not worry. Against Sunderland, Peters is outstanding and opens the scoring with a characteristically stylish first-half goal. After that, it’s all West Ham — Frank Lampard has a shot cleared off the line, Jim Montgomery saves brilliantly from Geoff Hurst and Clyde Best thumps the bar. But Sunderland, bottom of the table, somehow survive and gain an unexpected point when Bobby Moore’s schoolboy howler hands a goal to Billy Hughes.

WEST HAM UNITED: Ferguson, Bonds, Lampard, Howe, Stephenson, Moore, Redknapp, Peters, Brooking, Hurst, Best.

SUNDERLAND: Montgomery, Irwin, Ashurst, Todd, Heslop, McGiven, Park, Hughes, Baker, Kerr, Tueart.

Critics deny Mee sporting chance

The Times is clear on one thing: Arsenal are wasting their time in the Fairs Cup. “Into Europe with little more than a prayer” the headline says after their dismal 0-0 draw with Ipswich Town is watched by only 22,000 at Highbury. In his match report, Norman Fox says: “Arsenal have about as much chance of success in the Fairs Cup as they have of winning the championship.” Wednesday night’s match against Sporting Lisbon looks certain to end in more anguish and Bertie Mee, the manager, leaves the ground with a curt nod in the direction of the waiting press — but no hint as to how he intends to solve the team’s chronic goalscoring problems.

ARSENAL: Barnett, Storey, Nelson, McLintock, Neill, Simpson, Robertson, Sammels, Gould (George), Graham, Radford.

IPSWICH TOWN: Best, Carroll, Harper, Viljoen, Baxter, McNeil, Mills, Collard, Hill, O’Rourke, Brogan.

Nil-nil desperandum

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