Everton’s dismal start to season suffers latest calamity after Carabao Cup shoot-out defeat

Ashley Young’s poor effort was saved by Alex McCarthy sparking fury from the home fans

Everton’s early season crisis deepened when they crashed out of the Carabao Cup after a shoot-out with fellow Premier League strugglers Southampton.
After the first 11 penalties were all successfully converted, Ashley Young, the most experienced man on the pitch, saw his spot kick saved by Alex McCarthy to put Southampton through.
It was the second season running that Everton have gone out of the competition after losing a shoot-out – last season they lost to Fulham.
While it increased the pressure for Dyche, the victory provided was some welcome relief for Southampton boss Russell Martin, who has been under-fire after four straight League defeats following their return to the top flight.
With League points already a priority for both clubs, both managers rotated their squads – Dyche making eight changes and Martin making 10.
Southampton enjoyed the bulk of possession in the early stages but it was Everton who carried the greater attacking threat with Beto having a shot saved by McCarthy and McNeil heading over Jesper Lindstrom’s corner.
Many of Everton’s goals last season stemmed from set-pieces and it was no surprise when they took the lead from that route after 20 minutes.
McCarthy flapped at McNeil’s delivery, Jake O’Brien turned the ball back from beyond the far post, Michael Keane headed it on for Abdoulaye Doucoure to nod in from close range.
Lindstrom should have made it 2-0 when he was sent through by Doucoure’s pass but saw his shot saved by McCarthy when squaring the ball to the supporting Beto would have been the better option.
Everton were made to pay for the wasted opportunity when Southampton equalised in the 32nd minute from their own set-piece, Taylor Harwood-Bellis escaping his marker McNeil to score a powerful downward header at the far post from Charlie Taylor’s free-kick.
Lindstrom wasted an almost identical chance to his first half opportunity early in the second period when he was sent clean through by Beto but his shot was well saved by the advancing McCarthy.
At the other end, Joao Virginia saved from Ryan Fraser after a mix-up in the Everton defence.
Keane made a vital interception to nick the ball off Adam Armstrong’s toe as he prepared to pounce on Maxwel Cornet’s low cross before both managers made a flurry of substitutions in a bid to find a winner.
Ben Brereton-Diaz tested Virginia’s nerve with a low shot while at the other end, Tim Ireogbunam headed over from a corner but neither side could find a winner and it went to a shoot-out – with Southampton keeping their cool to emerge as victors.