Everton continued their preparations for the start of the new Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 friendly victory away to Stoke City.   

It proved a useful workout for Sean Dyche’s squad, with many of those involved completing a third game in the space of seven days. The contest also saw new signing Arnaut Danjuma make his first appearance for the Club following his arrival on loan earlier this month.   

The Blues displayed an improved second-half display, growing into the game, before Amadou Onana's late goal secured a Toffees' victory.

In the final minute of the game, the Belgian fought to follow in James Tarkowski's downwards header, sliding the ball past Stoke's Mark Travers.

Jordan Pickford returned to Everton's starting line-up for the contest with Dyche opting to deploy a 4-3-3 formation. Nathan Patterson, Michael Keane, Tarkowski and Ashley Young completed the defence ahead of England's No.1.   

The midfield was made up of Idrissa Gana Gueye, James Garner and Abdoulaye Doucoure who played behind an attacking trio of Alex Iwobi and Dwight McNeil on the flanks with Danjuma leading the attack.   

Stoke started the brighter of the two sides, no doubt benefiting from being one week ahead of the Blues in their pre-season preparations.   

Yet, they were unable to turn their early dominance of the ball into any chances of note on Pickford’s goal.   

Instead, it was the Toffees who had the first real effort as the match approached the 20th minute. From a free-kick, Young drifted a deep cross towards Keane who headed the ball back across goal and into the path of Doucoure. His goalward shot was blocked by Ben Wilmot before Stoke scrambled away the danger.   

That effort sparked the game into life. Garner poked a shot on target from the edge of the box minutes later before a latch-ditch Young interception at the other end stopped a dangerous Stoke counterattack which nearly allowed Chiquinho a free strike at goal from six yards out.   

Everton improved as the half progressed and started building through impressive spells of possession, often in the Stoke half. The final ball, though, was too often lacking allowing the hosts to break on the Blues more regularly than Dyche would have liked.   

For the second period, Jarrad Branthwaite, Onana and Neal Maupay joined the action in place of Keane, Garner and Danjuma.   

It was one of the substitutions, Onana, who had Everton’s first effort of the half. The Belgium international collected the ball on the edge of the box before smashing a strike towards goal – the effort flew wide of Travers’ post.    

Stoke answered back minutes later when Jacob Brown broke free in the Everton penalty area, his powerful shot forced a good save from Pickford who palmed the ball behind for a corner. This started a dangerous spell for the home side who began to pile pressure on the Everton backline.   

Again, the Toffees stood tall. It then looked as if they should have been awarded a penalty when McNeil was brought down as he went to hit a pass that found him on the edge of the box. The referee waved away Everton protests as McNeil left the field soon after, replaced by Lewis Dobbin.   

The contest ebbed and flowed as both sides tried to push for an opening goal, but neither were able to convert positive spells on the ball into tangible efforts.   

Tyler Onyango joined the action late on in place of Doucoure and had a hand in Everton’s best chance of the half up until that point. He passed into the fit of Onana who fizzed a great low cross into the penalty area. Dobbin attacked it well but couldn’t direct his effort on target and it flew just wide of the post.  

The 20-year-old went close again as the game approached full-time. He latched onto a long ball in behind the defence from Tarkowski and controlled it well but his low effort under on-rushing goalkeeper Travers drifted into the side netting.  

Again Dobbin, who proved a real handful following his introduction went close deep into stoppage time, forcing a tidy save from Travers. Then, from the resulting corner, Onana bundled home a Tarkowski header to seal the victory. 

Next up for the Toffees is the final clash of their pre-season schedule as they welcome Sporting CP to Goodison Park on Saturday 5 August (3pm KO).