Life suddenly sweet again for Toffees

THERE was support from the stands, freedom to perform on the pitch and the sort of routine Everton victory that has seldom been evident for months.

David Unsworth and Joe Royle’s managerial partnership may only last one game, but it can be remembered for uncovering an antidote to a season of poison at Goodison Park.

The dismissal Roberto Martinez Thursday lanced of last the

<M<IKFE EFIN@:?

tension festering from a poor campaign and a resounding win here – fuelled by an infusion of youth – over relegated Norwich maintained the mood.

“If there was a script it would have been exactly what has happened, minute one to last, fantastic,” said Unsworth, normally the U21s coach. He opted to give promising duo Tom Davies and Kieran Dowell their first starts and asked debutant Jonjoe Kenny to replace the injured Matthew Pennington after just 29 minutes.

Dowell was influential in the opening goal, cutting in from the right wing and seeing a ricochet from a Norwich defender tee up James McCarthy to unleash a thunderous shot from 20 yards. The second came after 44 minutes when Norwich substitute Robbie Brady tangled with Romelu Lukaku, who threw himself to the floor. Leighton Baines dispatched the spot-kick.

Straight after the break man-of-the-match Davies won a tackle in midfield, Dowell fed McCarthy and the cross from Kenny reached Kevin Mirallas, who tapped home at the far post. It was a poor defeat but Norwich boss Alex Neil expects to stay on. “It looks likely I will be here next season,” he said.

EVERTON (4-3-3):