David Unsworth insisted his players were unlucky after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser against PSV Eindhoven at Southport FC on Tuesday night.
Everton led from early on in the Premier League International Cup clash, with the in-form Anthony Gordon on target 11 minutes in.
But a 94th-minute leveller earned the visitors a 1-1 draw.
“I didn’t think we deserved that after our hard work,” said Under-23s boss Unsworth.
“Our pressing at times was fantastic and it’s something we’ve worked on in training. We maybe just needed to be a bit more savvy and see the game out and not put ourselves under pressure to concede the corner.
“But we’d lost our last two games so that little run has stopped. I was happy with the application and the work-rate tonight. We were unlucky not to win but they looked a good team, too, in the second-half when they had a bit more of the ball.”
The Everton goal was a splendid one. Tyler Onyango showed good aggression to win the ball and his perfectly-placed pass behind the full-back was picked up by Dennis Adeniran, who pulled it back nicely across goal for Gordon to finish.
“Again, that’s something we’ve worked on,” said Unsworth. “It was great pressing, great overlapping and a good finish from Anthony.”
PSV had the odd moment in the first-half with Chukwunonso Madueke their main threat but by and large Harry Tyrer was unworried.
At the other end, goalscorer Gordon threatened whenever he got some decent possession wide on the left, but Everton were unable to utilise him regularly enough.
The best effort in the opening 45 from the Dutch came, predictably, from Madueke who wriggled free and forced Tyrer into a fine save with a snapshot from the edge of the box.
PSV came close to equalising on 57 minutes when Madueke, again, fired a shot on the run narrowly wide.
Gordon couldn’t impose himself on the game quite as much in the second half but Ellis Simms did. First, he spun cleverly inside the box and forced Lars Unnerstall into a smart save and then he collected a pass from Gordon before rifling an effort just too high.
With 15 minutes left, skipper Morgan Feeney headed the ball across goal from a corner but there was no blue shirt there to apply the finishing touch.
The Blues appeared to have done enough until that late, late blow. PSV goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall ventured forward for the stoppage-time corner and when he won the ball in the box, Maxime Soulas was on hand to force it over the line.
It was cruel on Everton but there were plenty of positives to glean from the game – not least of which was an assured midfield performance from 16-year old Tyler Onyango.
“I thought he was absolutely terrific,” said Unsworth.
“He’s someone who was on our radar, but we thought it may be January before he stepped up.
“But his performances with the Under-18s have been that good and his energy, pressing and regaining of the ball are phenomenal.
“He looks a really good player and he’s benefitting from playing alongside Beni [Baningime]. Beni at times again was the best player on the pitch tonight.”
