Prince Rupert's Tower
Fansided

Hull City 2 Everton 3: Toffees scrape past Tigers in jittery third round win

By Matt Townsend

HULL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Andre Gomes of Everton celebrates after scoring their sides second goal with team mates Allan and Anthony Gordon during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Hull City and Everton at MKM Stadium on January 08, 2022 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Andre Gomes of Everton celebrates after scoring their sides second goal with team mates Allan and Anthony Gordon during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Hull City and Everton at MKM Stadium on January 08, 2022 in Hull, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

That was hard work as Everton just about managed to overcome a determined Hull City side and win last night’s third round FA Cup tie.

Substitute Andros Townsend’s fine goal in extra time was the difference but Everton also had the woodwork and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to thank for a very late save that preserved their slender lead.

All-in-all this was once again not a very impressive performance from the Toffees much-changed side and they laboured for long periods of this match.

Rafa Benitez again went with three at the back, this seems to be his default defensive formation now, with Seamus Coleman lining up alongside Micheal Keane and Ben Godfrey. Once more the side looked inbalanced and lacking enough bodies in the centre of the pitch.

The manager also gave new signing Vitaly Mykolenko a debut at left wing-back and the Ukrainian did ok overall. But, despite the changes in personel a constant fault in Everton’s defence this campaign, again reared it’s head.

Conceding early goals and especially set-pieces, has been a feature of the Blues’ season and last night they were behind in under a minute.

Tiger’s striker Tyler Smith hadn’t scored in fifteen games but of course Everton’s defence obliged and enabled him to end that goalless run.

The Toffees’ had to respond and eventually they did with Demarai Gray finishing after a neat and intricate move between him and Anthony Gordon.

Once more Gordon was arguably the away team’s brightest attacking player and he had another good game creating chances and almost finding the net himself too before he tired later.

The 20-year-old is starting to develop a real raport with Gray, who like Gordon was also sharp and worked hard despite not being 100% fit.

Gordon then supplied a ball for Jonjo Kenny to cross and Andre Gomes stooped to head home for Everton to gain the lead before halftime. Now, perhaps the Blues’ could go on for a more comfortable win?

No, that wasn’t to be of course as Hull responded to going behind and they were good value in truth for their equaliser, which eventually forced extra-time.

So to Townsend’s superb winner and Begovic’s heroics between the sticks which allowed this far from convincing Everton team to progress into the next round.

The FA Cup represents the last, very slim chance of achieving anything from this season with hopes of European football again gone I think. A decent run in the world’s oldest cup competition is all Evertonians have to cling to from the wreakage of another lost campaign.

Next, though is a return to the bread and butter of Premier League football with the previously postponed visit of Leicester City on Tuesday.

A performance like that against the Foxes will be much more severely punished. This was a necessary victory to keep the season alive but the pressure is not off Benitez by any stretch.