LEON OSMAN: Derby demolition gave me a sleepless night... but we will bounce back against Villa

Leon Osman returns for his latest Footballers' Football Column just hours after the 'worst result of his career'. Everton were thrashed 4-0 in the Merseyside derby by Liverpool and the Toffees midfielder explains the hurt of losing to their local rivals. Osman also explains how Aiden McGeady got the better of him and Gareth Barry on the golf course.

I am finishing this column on the morning after one of the worst results of my career. We’ve had a great season so far but to lose heavily against Liverpool was a massive blow.



I was personally gutted not to be in the starting XI because I want to play in every single game, especially the derby.



I got on at half-time with us already 3-0 behind and although we started the second half really well, their fourth goal, against the run of play, effectively finished the game.

Not going to plan: Leon Osman, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry make their point to referee Martin Atkinson

Night to forget: Osman described Everton's 4-0 defeat by Liverpool as the worst of his career

Having been defensively solid all season, to lose three quick first half goals in such a manner left us as shell-shocked as our supporters were. In a strange game, we had more possession than the home team on the night, but we were done on the counter attack for three of the four goals.



Three losses in the Premier League by the start of February isn’t bad but derby defeats really hurt. I didn’t sleep a wink last night but we haven’t got too much time to dwell on it.



We’ve got another big game against Aston Villa on Saturday and we’ll be doing all we can to get back on track.

As this my first column of 2014 I suppose I can start with wishing you all the very best for the new year. I know we're almost one month into the year but I hope it’s turning out to be a good one for all the readers.



The festive period was its usual busy time of the year for us at Everton. Along with the fixtures, we had five games in 14 days at one point; there was the usual round of charitable appearances to do; we had the players’ annual 'Christmas Jumper' afternoon out and I am the chief Christmas gift-wrapper in the Osman household. And with three young children that's no small task!



The football went well for us, apart from the Boxing Day blip at home to Sunderland. With all due respect to them we were fully expected to win that game and continue our great record against them in the Premier League.



However, the afternoon hinged on one incident when Tim Howard played a short pass to me on the edge of the box in the first-half. The ball took a slight 'nick' off the pitch, (OK, I mis-controlled it) Ki-Sung Yeung took possession and when he rounded T-How, he was brought down for a penalty.



I was devastated, especially when Tim was subsequently sent off. And to top it off, as I was realising the full implications of us being down to 10 men with a penalty to face, it dawned on me that we needed to bring a keeper on and I might well be the one to be replaced!

Horror show: The Anfield scoreboard shows the result of the derby

Heads down: Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka look dejected after the defeat

I might not even get chance to put it right! I looked over to the bench and my heart sank even further as I realised that my number was well and truly up when the stadium announcer said 'Substitution for Everton, please welcome No 1, Joel Robles and show your appreciation for No 21, Leon Osman'.



My plan to make amends was dead and buried! I was distraught and all I could think about was my family sitting in the stands. My kids would be just as gutted.

I’ve been playing for Everton for 11 years now and the law of averages says you'll make a mistake that costs your team a goal at some point but for it to cost us a man AND a goal AND subsequently three points was as harsh as it gets.



These things happen in football and with experience you do cope better with them but it's still a dreadful feeling to be involved in a howler and not be able to rectify things.



Happy Christmas: Osman was pleased with Everton's results over the festive period

There was no blame attached to anyone by anyone in the dressing room because that's what we're like at Everton but it didn't make me feel any better.



The lads were terrific that day and, if it wasn't for the mix up between Tim and I, we would surely have secured all three points. I took it hard...and I was just glad that New Years' Day went better for me...



We battered Stoke at their place on January 1, no question about it. I've got a lot of time for Mark Hughes - I was a youth team player when he had a brief spell at Everton towards the end of his career and I used to enjoy watching him in training - but I had to disagree with his post-match suggestion that Stoke deserved all three points against us.



The second half was all one-way traffic but it looked like being one of those days where the team on top just can't find a way through.

Playing days: Osman used to look up to Mark Hughes when he was a player at Everton

I started the game on the bench and the gaffer put me on with about 20 minutes left. It was one of those times when everything I tried came off and I always felt as though we were going to score even as the last minute approached.



Sure enough, I took the ball past Jermaine Pennant in the last minute, he brought me down and Leighton Baines, as usual, kept his composure to convert his penalty. I felt I had redeemed myself and it was a much happier Ossie that night!



One festive event I particularly enjoyed was when Tony Hibbert and I went to Goodison to meet some Evertonians. The club invited about 120 Season Ticket Holders into one of the lounges and Hibbo and I did a Question & Answer session with them.

Simply the best: Osman described Tony Hibbert as the best player he played with at Everton

I was asked at one point who the best player is that I ever played alongside. I replied 'I'm going to say Hibbo. He's been consistent in the Premier League for 10 years or so, I've never seen any winger get the better of him and he's also a very good friend.' Hibbo was then asked the same question and he looked at me, grinned and said 'Wayne Rooney!'



We were all sad to see Niki Jelavic go. He did really well for us, he was a great lad in and around the dressing room and he left for Hull City with all our best wishes. It was just a shame that he couldn't get his hat-trick on his last appearance for us.



He'd got two against QPR in the FA Cup when he tried to be cute and chipped his penalty against the crossbar. One of my mates had a few quid on him to score a hat-trick and he was far less than pleased. I was under instructions to carry out some act of retribution on the training ground!

Cup king: Nikica Jelavic bagged a brace for Everton in the FA Cup third round against QPR

Moving on: Osman was sad to see Jelavic leave for Hull in the transfer window

My dad has also had reason to be peeved at not winning a bet! When I have a cup of tea at Finch Farm each morning I read a couple of the papers and I scan the A-Z listing of all the racehorses to see if there are any names relevant to me – family, friends, pets, that sort of thing. If I spot any I text my dad and he puts a few quid on them.



Sadly, I didn’t spot Ossie’s Dancer at Southwell recently and, wouldn’t you know it, it finished third… at a price of 100/1. My dad wasn’t best pleased….



And the Christmas Jumper afternoon? Well, it's becoming something of a tradition now that all the players and some of the staff get together and have a traditional Christmas dinner somewhere in the city.



The only rule is that a Christmas jumper must be worn by everyone. We had a right good laugh and Leighton Baines went one better than a jumper and dressed himself up as a Christmas Tree!

Better player than singer: Osman was not impressed with Romelu Lukaku's rendition of 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'

The new boys have to stand on a table and sing a song for the rest of us and I would say this year's highlight was between Antolin Alcaraz who sang ‘Oh-Bla-Di, Oh-Bla, Da’ by The Beatles and Romelu Lukaku who sang the old Manfred Mann song 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy'. Big Rom is significantly more talented in the penalty area than he was on the table that day I can tell you!



Evertonians will have seen me doing a bit of singing and dancing myself on the video that the club put together just before Christmas!



Our media guys filmed various players and staff throwing some shapes and then edited it all together to the soundtrack of the famous Morecambe & Wise song 'Bring Me Sunshine'. It got played on the big screens at Goodison and the fans loved it. Even the gaffer was involved and I believe it's had over 150,000 views on YouTube.





I showed my kids and they loved it. I think they thought it was a clip from Top of the Pops.

Talking of the kids, mine are aged eight, five and two and we had a very busy time over Christmas with the usual build-up of Christmas Eve at the cinema; this year watching Frozen.



After watching all three Alvin and the Chipmunks films in previous years Frozen was an absolute work of art and should be nominated for parents' film of the year!!



Then on Christmas Day itself we had all the family round. That involved eight excited children running around all afternoon and evening with all sorts of new toys, the most annoying of which was a 'Nerf'. They all seemed to have one and it fired little darts at anyone that moved. It made even a little trip to the bathroom an obstacle course! It was a nightmare!



King of clubs: Everton new boy Aiden McGeady got the better of Osman and Gareth Barry over 18 holes

But I did do quite well on Christmas morning. I'd told my eldest boy, Cole, that he couldn't come into our bedroom to wake us up before seven. On the dot of 7am he crept round the door, shook me awake and boasted quite proudly that he'd been awake since five to seven and waited for ages in his room because he didn't want to break the rules in case Santa was still watching. Good old Santa!



The boss took the players to Tenerife recently for some warm weather training and the break did us the world of good. The complex we stayed at was different class but it was in no way, shape or form a holiday for the lads.



The training was tough and it was like a mini-pre-season for us.



We did get one day off with the option of going fishing or golfing. Hibbo, as expected, led the way to the boat and he did well apparently. He loves his fishing and he’s bought his own lake and complex in France.



Putting the work in: Roberto Martinez takes training as Osman and Leighton Baines try to keep warm



He’s even got himself onto Twitter, which I never thought would happen! Give him a follow @lacdepremiere. But beware… the Twitter page is for his business which he takes very seriously so you’ll get more out of him if your banter is about rods, hooks and maggots than you will about footy!



Having never picked up a rod in my life I went for the 18 holes. I had a decent round by my standards but I'm pretty sure I was hustled by our new signing Aiden McGeady.



He arrived announcing to Gaz Barry and I that he doesn't play very much and that his handicap was 22. After five holes we had no reason to disbelieve him and we were even suggesting a little wager on the back nine. Well, wouldn't you believe it Mr McGeady then didn't hit another bad shot all afternoon! He averaged four over the final eight holes. Needless to say GB and I were well and truly 'done' and we’ll be wary of any future claims from Aiden!



Everyone was devastated at the injury suffered by Bryan Oviedo. Bryan is one of the most popular lads in the dressing room. He’s always got a smile on his face, he never gives anything less than 100 per cent every day in training and he certainly took his chance when Bainesy was injured for a while.

