LINCOLN CITY 2-4 EVERTON

Marco Silva was delighted by the character of his Everton side after a cracking second-round Carabao Cup tie at Sincil Bank. The Blues ran out 4-2 winners despite going behind after just 21 seconds to book a 3rd Round meeting with Sheffield Wednesday.

The night started poorly for Silva’s men when Djibril Sidibe, making his debut, only half-cleared a long throw and Jack Payne cut a ball back from the byline for Harry Anderson to fire past Jordan Pickford to the delight of the home crowd. Everton looked shaken.

However, once the visitors settled the game down they began to play and Moise Kean, another making his first Everton start, was unlucky not to get off the mark when his powerful run and shot crashed off a post.

Everton did equalise however after 36 minutes through a Lucas Digne free-kick. The blues were awarded the kick 30 yards from goal after Fabian Delph had been fouled. The French left-back duly stepped up and curled the ball into the top corner with deadly precision.

The second half began and Everton gained control and after a nice combination between Kean and Morgan Schneiderlin saw the Frenchman fouled in the box by Michael O’Connor and a penalty awarded to the visitors.

Gylfi Sigurdsson put the visitors ahead with the penalty, firing high into the top corner which started a melee of pushing and shoving and saw England keeper Jordan Pickford run the length of the field to get involved and was booked for his trouble.

Just when it looked as though Everton would control the last twenty minutes and see out the tie Lincoln equalised with a brilliant volley from Bruno Andrade. He caught the ball so cleanly after a cross from the right was only partially cleared and he slammed it into Pickford’s net from 10 yards to make it 2-2.

What will have pleased manager Marco Silva, will have been the way Everton went after Lincoln again and restored their lead with nine minutes remaining.

Sigurddsson got to the byline and put in a deep cross which substitute Cenk Tosun nodded back across goal for Alex Iwobi to head in and open his Everton account to restore their lead. The away erupted and Iwobi looked delighted with his finish.

Everton then put the game to bed with a couple of minutes to spare. Digne did really well under pressure and put in a fantastic cross that Richarlison met with an unstoppable header that flew into the back of the net past keeper Smith to finish the Imps off 4-2.

Final Score: Lincoln City 2-4 Everton

How They Lined Up: 

Barry Cass