Baines' Blues Beat Peterborough In FA Cup

Leighton Baines tasted victory as Everton interim manager after Beto’s first-half goal and Iliman's Ndiaye's late penalty proved enough to see off Peterborough United 2-0 in the FA Cup third round at Goodison.

The Blues favourite took charge for the tie, supported by captain Seamus Coleman, and, after enjoying a host of chances from the likes of Orel Mangala and Idrissa Gana Gueye, Beto’s cool finish three minutes before the break from Harrison Armstrong’s incisive pass put the Toffees in control.

And their place in the hat for the next stage was sealed in 10 minutes of added-time as Jarrad Branthwaite was bundled over in the area, Ndiaye picking up the ball and coolly slotting home from 12 yards out.

The night was soured late on when substitute Armando Broja was taken off on a stretcher after landing awkwardly following a block tackle by Emmanuel Fernandez.

With Baines taking temporary charge for the tie, assisted by his former teammate Coleman, the Blues made six changes from Saturday’s Premier League clash at Bournemouth.

Switching to a 3-5-2 formation, Nathan Patterson was handed his first start of the season at right wing-back, with Jake O’Brien and Michael Keane in central defence alongside Branthwaite, and Joao Virginia between the sticks.

Meanwhile, Beto was given the nod to lead the Toffees’ attack, flanked by 17-year-old Armstrong and Ndiaye.

Under-21s Luke Butterfield and Zan-Luk Leban were among the substitutes, as was Ashley Young and, for Peterborough, his 18-year-old son Tyler.

The Blues saw plenty of the ball in the early stages, only to be limited to long-range strikes from Beto and Ndiaye.

Patterson showed attacking intent on 15 minutes as he did well to control a fine crossfield ball from Idrissa Gana Gueye before being brought down on the right edge of the area by Cian Hayes. Armstrong floated over the free-kick for Branthwaite to tee up Mangala but the Belgian’s 20-yard shot lacked the fizz he showed when opening his account for the Club from a similar position against Wolves in December.

Gana was the next to go for goal from the edge of the box five minutes later, drilling a rising shot that goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic clawed away in unorthodox fashion.

And the defensive midfielders kept threatening from 20 yards out, Mangala going the closest yet to breaking the deadlock, collecting a miscued Peterborough clearance and volleying onto the crossbar.

With Everton having been in full control, Peterborough had their first opportunity 10 minutes before the break, a corner from the left going all the way to the back post for Hayes to smack a first-time shot that needed a crucial block from Branthwaite.

The Blues responded after patient build-up play allowed Branthwaite to dink a pinpoint cross into the area that met the head of Beto but lacked the power to trouble Bilokapic.

But the Portuguese made no mistake with the opener three minutes before half-time. Ndiaye jinked his way into the middle of the pitch, squared to Armstrong who looked up and split the Peterborough defence with a threaded pass for Beto to collect, round Bilokapic and slot into an empty net.

 

Patterson had been a constant menace down the right and the Scotland international  carved out the first chance after the break, sprinting onto another impressive Armstrong pass, nutmegging Hayes on the byline and cutting back for Gana to fire over the bar when well placed.

Every cutting pass for the Blues seemed to come through Armstrong, who was revelling in showing off his promising array of attributes in front of a sold-out Goodison.

Everton had to be on their guard for a Peterborough response, however, and that nearly came just past the hour mark when Donay O’Brien-Brady swung a left-wing cross to pick out an unmarked James Dornelly at the back post. The left-back opted to take a touch, though, enabling the Blues to clear their lines.

The Toffees responded soon after as Beto swivelled in the area and fed Mykolenko who took one touch too many himself when a first-time finish looked the better option.

Baines made his first changes on 68 minutes, creator and goalscorer – Armstrong and Beto – being replaced by Jack Harrison and Armando Broja.

The new boys nearly made an instant impact, too, with Harrison angling a corner to the edge of the area for Keane to drill a shot off the floor and Broja going close to heading home from five yards out.

A third substitution followed, 39-year-old Young coming on for Armstrong to increase the chances of a rare father-and-son head-to-head with his oldest child Tyler.

Broja was next to go close as he chased Mylolenko’s long pass, beating onrushing keeper Bilokapic to the ball but being tackled by Emmanuel Fernandez as he shaped to shoot from the left touchline. The Albanian international fell awkwardly afterwards and needed to be taken off on a stretcher, replaced by Abdoulaye Doucoure.

Ten minutes of added-time were signalled, and that allowed Everton to seal the tie as Branthwaite was tugged down by Jadel Katongo challenging for a header. Referee Thomas Bramhall pointed to the spot and Ndiaye made no mistake from the penalty spot to see the Blues home.