Andros Townsend says work with Rafa Benitez on the training pitch has been key to the goalscoring exploits of Everton's wingers. 

Summer recruit Townsend opened his account for the Club against Huddersfield Town, with a well-taken strike on only his second start as the Blues' battled through to the Carabao Cup third round.

Fellow wide attacker Alex Iwobi also got off the mark for 2021/22 at the John Smith's Stadium, while Demarai Gray found himself on the scoresheet against Leeds United three days previous.

And Townsend, while acknowledging the season is still in its infancy, explains the trio's fruitful spell in front of goal has been no coincidence.

"It was probably relief more than anything," Townsend exclusively told evertontv after netting the winner against the Terriers. "It was a very tough game. We knew it was going to be tough. They came to frustrate us and they did that. Then, once we had the red card, we were really on the back foot, so, thankfully I got the goal and we're in the next round. And who knows... We can dream still.

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"I speak for myself as well and I don't think we were good enough in possession. We were a bit wasteful at times and when you play these games, with teams that come and frustrate you, you need to be clinical when you get your chances. We weren't clinical tonight but we squeezed through, we got the job done and hopefully in the next round we can be a lot better.

"[Scoring goals] is what we've been working on in training. 

"I've said in previous interviews that the manager wants his wingers running in behind, like Alex [Iwobi] did for his goal and getting into the box, like I did for my goal. 

"So, we're both pleased with our goals but there's still a lot more work to do and I'm sure when we get back to training, the manager will be going through what we didn't do so well, so next time we can put the wrongs right."

After Townsend's 80th-minute effort, Everton finished the cup tie in the ascendancy, despite playing the final half hour with 10-men following Moise Kean's straight red card.

Those fitness levels, combined with a never-say-die attitude, quality competition for places and the meticulous nature of new boss Benitez has left Townsend in optimistic mood.

"The result does our confidence does the world of good," he added. "The manager we have here, he won't let us get carried away. At the end of training last Friday before the Leeds game, he called us all in and told us not to get complacent, it was only one win and to keep our feet on the ground. 

"I think as players you need that. He'll make sure everyone's grounded, nobody's getting carried away and that we're fully focused.

"I think the fitness is a big part of it but also the character. Through all the games we've shown great character to either come back from a losing position, or like tonight where we faced adversity with 10 men and kept going. 

"The fitness is good to go for the 90 minutes but also the character, to know that if we do concede, if we go down to 10 men, if we face any adversity, we know we have enough in the dressing room to get us through. 

"I think that will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.

"Competition is always healthy. Like I said, Alex was probably unlucky not to start and I started, got the assist and that wasn't good enough to start the second game, where Alex started and played very well, Demarai played very well, too. 

"Myself and Alex have got both goals, so the competition will bring the best out of us. 

"We know that having a 7/10 game is not good enough and the manager, with the way he works in training, he'll keep dragging the most out of us and get us to fulfil our potential. We've all scored goals this season now and hopefully we can all keep scoring goals for this football club."

With grounds back to full capacity, this was Townsend's second taste of a typically raucous sold-out Everton away end.

A total of 2,364 made the trip to west Yorkshire and with another away trip to Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League next up, the Blues' number 14 is relishing the prospect of pulling on the "famous" shirt and playing in front of the travelling Toffees again.

"The Evertonians were incredible," said Townsend, with a smile. "Thankfully, we gave them something to really sing about at the end by scoring in front of them and sending them home happy. 

"It was nice for myself to open my account for this famous football club and in front of the fans. Hopefully, before too long, I can score at Goodison as well.

"Honestly, [Brighton] were one of the best sides I played last season. I spoke to a couple of the boys here as well and they will probably echo that as well. They were very tough games for Everton against them last season. 

"Last season I think they were missing a bit of that killer instinct in the final third but now they seem to have that this season in the first two games. 

"It's going to be a tough game for sure and we're going to need to have that character and that fitness if we're to get anything from the game."