Everton start new era with a win
Everton 2 - 0 Peterborough United
Premier League strugglers Everton kickstarted life after Sean Dyche with a hard-fought victory over League One side Peterborough in the FA Cup third round.
Thursday night's tie at Goodison Park was overshadowed by the shock announcement of Dyche's sacking just three hours before kick-off. The surprise decision left Everton Under-18s coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman stepping in as interim managers on a freezing Merseyside evening.
Portuguese striker Beto broke the deadlock three minutes before the interval, coolly rounding goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic after latching onto a brilliant through ball from 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong. It was a moment of quality in an otherwise cagey contest.
Beto had earlier seen a header comfortably saved, while Orel Mangala came close with a stunning volley that clipped the top of the crossbar. Peterborough, managed by Darren Ferguson, also threatened, with Cian Hayes' effort blocked by Jarrad Branthwaite and Ricky-Jade Jones testing Joao Virginia at the near post.
Everton sealed their place in the fourth round thanks to an injury-time penalty from Iliman Ndiaye, who slotted home after Branthwaite was clattered in the box by Jadel Katongo. However, the win was marred by concerns for on-loan striker Armando Broja, stretchered off with a suspected leg injury after a heavy challenge from Emmanuel Fernandez.
Drama behind the scenes
This was only the second competitive meeting between the two clubs and was originally billed as a tactical clash between seasoned managers Dyche and Ferguson, who share a combined 1,388 games of managerial experience. But those plans were thrown into chaos when Everton's owners, the Friedkin Group, opted to part ways with Dyche earlier in the day.
Despite the upheaval, it was Dyche's selected starting XI that took to the pitch, with Baines and Coleman tasked with leading the side on short notice. The performance on the night, however, offered little sign of a “new manager bounce,” with Everton struggling to break through against a team languishing 19th in League One.
The one true moment of magic came from young Armstrong, whose perfectly timed pass set up Beto's well-taken goal. Given limited chances under Dyche, the Portuguese forward reminded fans what he can offer, taking his tally to three goals for the season. Ndiaye's late penalty brought his total to four, making him the club’s leading scorer this term.
Adding a unique subplot, the match had the potential to feature a father-son showdown. Everton veteran Ashley Young came on as a second-half substitute, but his teenage son Tyler remained on the Peterborough bench, denying fans a rare piece of footballing history.
With Everton through to the next round, attention now turns to the search for a new manager and updates on Broja's injury – both critical to shaping the rest of their season.
