Pressure builds on Sean Dyche as Everton booed in Carabao Cup elimination (original) (raw)

Everton misery continues as boos ring out in painful Carabao Cup defeat

EVERTON 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON (5-6 PENS): Everton's winless start to the season continued on Tuesday night with a penalty shoot-out defeat against Southampton in the Carabao Cup

Sean Dyche with his Everton players during their Carabao Cup elimination

Ashley Young missed in the penalty shoot-out as Everton’s miserable campaign hit a new low.

Young’s effort was saved by Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after the 11 previous penalty takers had all scored. His fluffed attempt prompted many disillusioned Evertonians to leave in what could be the last cup game at Goodison Park.

Many fans are losing patience with Sean Dyche at this fifth defeat in six games and they booed when he brought Young on for striker Beto. US billionaire Dan Friedkin is considering renewing his takeover bid, two months after pulling out, and Everton will hope he does not focus on this game.

Everton were poor and Jesper Lindstrom missed twice when clean through in this Carabao Cup third-round tie. Their defence, which was the fourth best in the Premier League, remains as watertight as a sieve.

Dyche showed where the Carabao Cup ranks in his priorities as he made eight changes, including handing full debuts to 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong, who did well in centre midfield, and Orel Mangala. Russell Martin made 10 in this battle of the Premier League losers and both sides have yet to collect a point this season.

Southampton had more possession, but Everton had the early chances and Alex McCarthy saved Beto’s shot from a narrow angle on the right. McCarthy was at fault for Everton’s opener in 20 minutes when he failed to clear Dwight McNeil’s corner and Michael Keane nodded the ball goalwards for Abdoulaye Doucoure to get the final touch.

Lindstrom should have added a second and he shot straight at McCarthy when played clean through. That miss became even more glaring for Everton on 32 minutes when Taylor Harwood-Bellis muscled Beto off the ball and less than a minute later, lost makeshift left-back McNeil to head home Charlie Taylor’s free-kick for his first goal since December.

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Alex McCarthy was Southampton's shoot-out hero (

Image:

Paul Greenwood/REX/Shutterstock)

Lindstrom fluffed his lines again when he was played through and again his shot was saved by McCarthy. The Dane, signed on loan from Napoli, showed his frustration by falling flat on the turf. Ryan Fraser went close at the other end and Virginia did well to block his right-foot effort.

The home fans were simmering and their anger boiled over when Dyche replaced striker Beto with left-back Young and they booed what they saw as a negative move. They did not care that Dyche pushed McNeil forward into an attacking role and Dyche is running out of time in their eyes.

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