Leighton Baines knew exactly where to look after getting late Everton call following Sean Dyche sack
That Everton prodigy Harrison Armstrong supplied the moment of excellence that altered the game seemed appropriate for such a momentous occasion beneath the lights of Goodison Park.
Identified as a talent ahead of his years, the 17-year-old has spent this season excelling above his age group, his responsibilities moving to a half-time effort to turn the game as his team was thrashed by Bournemouth at the weekend.
His elevation meant that Under-18s manager Leighton Baines had been deprived of the youngster’s abilities all season, with the exception of an FA younger Cup fixture in which the midfielder, appropriately, celebrated his return to the younger ranks with a superb hat-trick.
So, on Thursday night, when the duo reconnected as Baines took over the first team after Sean Dyche’s resignation hours before kick-off, it was poetic that the U18s manager was assisted by one of the club’s U18 stars.
This FA Cup contest was heading for a break when the England youth international gathered the ball halfway inside Peterborough United’s half.
His through pass to Beto and the striker’s run were so perfectly timed that Beto seemed to be yards offside.
However, the flag remained down, and Beto showed more control than other royal blue attackers have in recent months as he circled Nicholas Bilokapic and scored from an angle.
It was a goal that helped to alleviate the worry of the upcoming break. While Everton had controlled up until the first goal, opportunities were few, with just two feeble attempts from Beto and an Orel Mangala volley that rattled the goalkeeper’s crossbar.
While Everton, who had switched to an intimidating center defensive line of Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane, and Jake O’Brien, were seldom tested, they did escape a scare when Cian Hayes smashed a half-volley goalwards.
Stand-in number one Joao Virginia was glad for the bodies of O’Brien and Branthwaite, who stopped an attempt that served as a reminder of how close the score was at the moment.
Armstrong’s brilliance altered that, demonstrating a player whose ascent had been sanctioned by Dyche but who, like many others in this Everton side, looked stifled by the lack of imagination inspired by the now-former Blues boss.
Nathan Patterson was one of the players. When given the option to play right wing back, he rampaged down the side and crossed with menace.
Emmanuel Fernandez was forced to head one well-weighted ball over the crossbar, and in the early stages of the second half, he nutmegged a defender in the corner before passing to Idrissa Gueye, who fired high over the bar.
Despite all of the alterations to Everton’s lineup, Baines said before kickoff that it was Dyche’s XI.
That may have been the truth, but this seemed like a different Everton than the last weeks of a manager who had twice achieved incredible survival campaigns but had failed to propel the team ahead in his third season in charge.
Everton are the better team and were calm on the night, despite having to work hard to win 2-0.
Baines was the driving force behind it, and he was joined in the dugout by club captain Seamus Coleman.
This was a feel-good alliance that elicited a resounding cheer from the home crowd when it was revealed shortly before kickoff.
The couple spent most of the contest working the touchline together, as they had done so well all those years earlier.
Baines watched intently as Coleman pushed forward every now and again to celebrate his players and provide instructions.
The two had pitchside meetings and responded in tandem while their players competed for loose balls.
Even though they lacked touchline expertise, they had a strong love, drive, and enthusiasm for their team.
There were no theatrics at the final whistle. After Coleman had welcomed each player off the field, the two just exchanged handshakes and warm embraces. The job is done.
This may have been Dyche’s lineup, but it was their team. Baines said that he had made a few changes and wanted his team to “produce a bright, dynamic performance that is appropriate for Goodison Park”.
They surely tried. Armstrong gained confidence after his inspirational assist, tugging the strings from the center of the field in the second half.
Patterson attacked with zest, and the long balls from the back that defined the Dyche era were gone.
That may have explained why the score was so close: Everton’s players were running through the motions as they re-learned the passing game after 23 months of sometimes successful, increasingly aimless route one.
A typical second half concluded with unexpected twists. Armando Broja, who had recovered from injury against Bournemouth to make the bench, was stretchered off with minutes remaining following a strong but fair tackle by Fernandez.
The striker has only played six games since joining on loan from Chelsea in the summer, and there is concern that, after missing the first four months of the season, he may now face another long stretch on the sidelines at a time when his team is struggling for goals.
Everton did, however, add a second goal, with Iliman Ndiaye easily rolling in after Branthwaite was pulled down by Jadel Katongo.
This wasn’t a great show. It served as a reminder that there is still work to be done with a limited squad.
Everton are in a relegation race, and the path ahead will be difficult, whether frontrunner and former manager David Moyes or someone else takes over.
But that was a step forward. A win. A goal from open play by a striker, the first since the same player scored in stoppage time against Fulham in October.
A collaboration in the dugout that encouraged optimism rather than despair.
A breakthrough moment for a young star, and the recollection of the dreadful Carabao Cup loss to Southampton, which had promised to be the last cup match at Goodison Park.
Everton fans have endured years of difficult evenings. There are more to come. Fortunately, this was not one of them, despite another time of turmoil.
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