Blues Win Under The Hill Dickinson Lights For Cup Progress

Four days after winning their first competitive match at their world-class new home, Everton recorded a maiden cup victory under the lights at Hill Dickinson Stadium, seeing off Mansfield Town 2-0 to progress to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Blues produced some quality football but had to be patient to find a winner, the breakthrough arriving six minutes after the restart courtesy of Charly Alcaraz’s delightful 20-yard finish from Harrison Armstrong's pass.

And the Academy graduate turned provider again with seconds to go, collecting James Garner's incisive through ball to tee up substitite Beto from close range.

The tie also saw new signing Tyler Dibling come off the bench for his Toffees debut, along with welcome starts for full-backs Seamus Coleman and Vitalii Mykolenko following their respective injuries.

Moyes made six changes to his starting XI from the historic 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Captain Coleman was handed his first start since the Blues’ Goodison swansong in May, having recovered from injury, while Mykolenko also shook off a groin niggle to return at left-back.

New signing Dibling was named on the bench following the winger’s signing from Southampton on Monday on a four-year deal.

Elsewhere, keeper Mark Travers made his competitive Everton bow, while Armstrong partnered Garner in centre midfield, and Jack Grealish and Dwight McNeil took the wing spots, with Alcaraz behind striker Thierno Barry.

Alcaraz went closest to opening the scoring on 13 minutes when a free-flowing move on the left saw Garner square to Grealish who teed up the Argentine. Alcaraz took a touch before planting a low 20-yard finish that was destined for the bottom left-hand corner until Stags keeper Liam Roberts got down well to turn around the post.

Roberts had to be alert to tip McNeil’s inswinging free-kick from wide right over the bar, before the former Burnley man was involved again, collecting Grealish’s pass and smashing a first-time shot high.

Grealish nearly opened his Everton account on 25 minutes, Barry playing Garner down the right side of the area. The midfielder – moving to his more familiar role after his encouraging two-match shift at left-back – squaring to the England international whose attempt went the same way as McNeil’s moments earlier.

Barry should have then got off the mark in blue nine minutes later, Grealish threading a sublime ball into Armstrong on the right side of the area. The Academy graduate could have squared to Barry for a simple tap-in but sniffed a maiden senior Toffees goal himself, striking straight into the arms of Roberts.

After a spell of Mansfield possession for the first time, Coleman got huge approval around Hill Dickinson Stadium with a trademark crunching tackle that nearly allowed Barry a clear path on goal.

That was to prove the last meaningful action of a first half that saw the Blues create, although patience was needed to find the breakthrough.

It didn’t take long for Everton to knock on the door after the restart. Grealish and Mykolenko combined down the left, allowing the summer arrival from Manchester City to drill a low shot that was parried by Roberts before Mansfield cleared for a corner.

Roberts could do little to keep out the Blues’ 51^st-minute opener, however. A sweeping move from left to right ended with Armstrong collecting possession inside the area, shuffling the ball between his feet and laying the ball off to Alcaraz who sailed a beauty of a finish into the top right-hand corner.

The breakthrough allowed Moyes to make his first changes on the hour, Dibling given his Everton bow, coming on for Grealish, with Beto replacing Barry.

Beto had a good chance to double the hosts' advantage on 72 minutes, Keane intercepting 35 yards out and feeding the striker who spun and hit straight at Roberts.

Dibling provided a glimpse of his talent with 10 minutes left, jinking a path down the right and chipping a cross that nearly found the head of Beto.

Iliman Ndiaye and Tim Iroegbunam were the next to come on, and the scorer of Everton Men's first Hill Dickinson goal nearly got on the scoresheet again, receiving Armstrong's through ball and squeezing a finish into the side netting.

There was to be one final bit of Blues quality to produce the second goal just before four minutes of added time were signalled.

Garner looked to find space 20 yards out, turned right, then left and angled a delicious through ball into Armstrong. The youngster turned provider again, cutting a low pass across goal for Beto to tap into an empty net and seal Everton’s progress.