Matchwinner Abdoulaye Doucoure hopes Everton’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Rotherham United on Saturday can kickstart a triumphant FA Cup campaign.
With the scores locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes at Goodison Park, substitute Doucoure secured the Blues’ progress in the competition with a well-taken extra-time strike.
Cenk Tosun gave Everton the lead early in the piece but the Toffees were pegged back when Michael Olosunde netted an equaliser for the visitors 10 minutes after the half-time interval.
Frenchman Doucoure – whose boundless energy helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side increase the tempo of their play following his introduction shortly after the hour mark – admitted Everton did not perform to the levels they are capable during the cup tie.
He emphasised, however, ensuring their place in Monday night’s fourth-round draw was of paramount importance.
“We are very happy to get through,” said Doucoure.
“It was a tough game for us.
“I think we started the game well but we gave them the chance to come back into the game.
“In the end, I am happy to score and happy it was the winning goal.
“We are also very pleased for Cenk to score today. He is a good guy and a good player.
“The FA Cup is one way to win a trophy for us. It is very important for us.
“We want to carry on and get all the way to the final and win that trophy.”
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Everton got to a flying start at Goodison – applying sustained pressure and opening the scoring when Tosun skilfully chipped the ball over Rotherham keeper Jamal Blackman after being played through on goal by Anthony Gordon.
The Championship outfit gradually began to gain a foothold in the game, with Robin Olsen forced to make two fine first-half saves to keep the Blues ahead.
But the Swede could do nothing about Olosunde’s equaliser, the dangerous forward squeezing a shot inside the post on 55 minutes.
Everton pushed for a winner in normal time and Tosun saw a second effort chalked off by VAR after he had strayed marginally offside.
Doucoure would strike three minutes into extra time, however, racing onto James Rodriguez’s perfectly weighted through pass and finishing first time into the bottom corner.
Doucoure added: “We know, against this type of team, we need to kill the game.
“We did well to score the winning goal at the start of extra time.
“It is an important win and now we need to go on [in this competition]."
