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Good signs in Everton cup win

By Matt Townsend

LINCOLN, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Moise Kean of Everton battles for possession with Aaron Lewis of Lincoln City and Harry Anderson of Lincoln City during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Lincoln City and Everton at Sincil Bank Stadium on August 28, 2019 in Lincoln, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Moise Kean of Everton battles for possession with Aaron Lewis of Lincoln City and Harry Anderson of Lincoln City during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Lincoln City and Everton at Sincil Bank Stadium on August 28, 2019 in Lincoln, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) /
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Although as always they made hard work of it, Everton eventually produced the goods and defeated a plucky Lincoln City 4-2 in the Carabao Cup second round last night.

As a reward for that slightly breathless victory, Everton next travel away again to take on Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of this competition.

While we probably shouldn’t read too much into a mid-week league cup win, there were some much-needed positive signs for the Blues to build onover the next few weeks.

Friday night’s depressingly predictable 2-0 loss at Aston Villa had surely created renewed anxiety amongst Evertonians about the team’s prospects for this season.

In particular the Toffees hugely frustrating inability to find the back of the net had Blues fans, including me, feeling a foreboding sense of desperation again.

Last night Everton travelled to the League One outfit for a game that had all the classic hallmarks of a banana skin in waiting.

The Blues have a long unwelcome tradition of slipping up against lower league cup opposition, especially when they are struggling generally.

And so when Lincoln City scored just seconds into the game last night, it seemed as though history might be about to repeat itself once again.

However Everton managed to lift themselves after that sluggish start. As expected Marco Silva put out a revised side and gave starts to Moise Kean and Alex Iwobi.  Both looked sharp and dangerous.

These players gave the Toffees attack much-needed pace, power and directness. Iwobi was always looking to get forward with the ball, take on defenders and create chances. Kean’s strength and movement also made him a constant and lively threat.

The two new attacking signings both impressed before the Blues got an equaliser from a brilliantly taken set-piece. Lucas Digne highlighted what a superb player he is with a wonderfully struck bullet of a free kick from all of 30 odd yards out.

It was a stunning goal against any opposition and the Frenchman is without doubt one of the best buys this great club have made in many a season.

Everton added another in the second half through a slightly contentious penalty expertly slotted home by Gylfi Sigurdsson and they looked in control.

But all credit to Lincoln although they didn’t have much of the ball they kept playing and almost from nothing they too scored a marvellous individual goal to draw level with their Premier League opponents.

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The Blues didn’t lose focus though and continued to create plenty of goal-scoring opportunities with Kean hitting the post and Richarlison having several chances as well.

Finally Iwobi got the goal his excellent performance merited and then from another sublime Digne cross, Richarlison headed in to make it 4-2.

It seems to be stating the obvious but both Iwobi and Kean are knocking on the door to start when Everton take on Wolves at Goodison Park on Sunday. I for one am hoping both get their chance in this match.