But Everton had other ideas and after they were awarded a free-kick on the edge of area, Baines stepped up to curl a delightful set-piece into Cech's top left-hand corner.
They do not deserve their fate - and if they were to curl up and die as a result of being ejected from league's top table, then the deep reservoir of talent that the area has produced over the years may also dry up.
Instead, his droolings will merely serve as comedy to curl up with during evenings free of the mindless television that so stimulates the non-intellectuals of the world, including this one.