- Iliman Ndiaye was amongst the scorers as Everton progressed in Carabao Cup
- Dwight McNeil and Beto also netted in much-needed win for the Toffees
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Iliman Ndiaye’s first Everton goal gave Goodison Park a much-needed lift following their dreadful start to the season.
Sean Dyche’s players were verbally abused after a heavy defeat at Tottenham but last night they were cheered off the pitch by a crowd of 37,000 who braved torrential rain.
Against League Two Doncaster, the home side were so excited by scoring their first goal of the season after 53 minutes that two different players claimed it.
Young midfielder Tim Iroegbunam shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards but looked up to see Dwight McNeil sheepishly raising his arm to take the credit.
Replays suggested the ball had brushed the No7 on its way in and the Goodison stadium announcer changed his original verdict of Iroegbunam to the more senior player.
Iliman Ndiaye was amongst the scorers as Everton progressed in the Carabao Cup
Ndiaye slotted home Everton’s second as they picked up their first win of the new season
There was no doubting the identity of the second scorer after 74 minutes.
There is a lot of pressure on Senegal World Cup star Ndiaye to provide some Merseyside magic following his summer move from Marseille.
The way he opened his Everton account with quick feet inside the penalty area before drilling home at Ian Lawlor’s near post suggests he will become a fans’ favourite.
There was also generous applause from the Gwlayds Street End for Beto who was rewarded for his hard work by adding a late third.
‘It’s a mini-step forward but the league is the be-all and end-all,’ said Dyche afterwards.
‘There has been a lot of noise about our start. This was pleasing. We have a good group here and put Ndiaye wide because I think it’s a good position for him. We want all the group to lay markers.’
He also signalled his agreement with other Blues fans who have come out against the barracking of Everton players by a small minority of supporters at Euston Station on Saturday.
‘I don’t need to mention anything other than what the mass of Everton fans have already said, that they feel it was unacceptable,’ he said. ‘Some of them (those who shouted abuse) crossed the line.’
Few clubs needed a morale-boosting EFL Cup win like Everton whose opening Premier League games had ended in defeats of 3-0 and 4-0.
Dyche was buoyed by fit-again James Garner and Seamus Coleman making their first appearances of the season and he also gave first starts for transfer window recruits Ndiaye, Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrom.
Everton needed their England No1 Jordan Pickford to save from Jack Senior to avoid an early setback.
However, they started to raise their game approaching the interval when Garner’s shot was deflected for a corner and from the following set-piece he drilled against the woodwork.
The much-needed breakthrough arrived when McNeil and Lindstrom combined down the right to set up Iroegbunam’s shot.
Beto (right) celebrates with team-mate Tim Iroegbunam after finding the net for Everton
Dwight McNeil claimed Everton’s first goal although there was uncertainty over who scored it
It was a much-needed first win of the season for Sean Dyche’s Everton after difficult results
Jarrad Branthwaite watched on from the stands amid uncertainty over his Everton future
Beto, who had scored against Doncaster in the same competition on his Everton debut last season, missed from close range so Ndiaye took matters into his own hand, giving the Lawlor the eyes before planting a neat finish.
It proved the cue for Everton to start displaying Premier League quality. McNeil was denied by a fingertip stop by Lawlor and then Beto pounced on a neat cutback from Vitaliy Mykolenko with seven minutes left.
Rovers boss Grant McCann saw Everton improve as the evening went on. ‘They came onto us more aggressively in the second half for sure,’ he said.
Blues forward Neal Maupay was left of the squad with a possible move out of the club before Friday’s deadline.