KEV SHOWS KOE JUST WHAT HE CAN DO
The Belgium international, who has 50 caps, was left out of the summer’s European Championships squad after a frustrating season.
But his wicked 10th-minute free-kick set the Blues on the way to victory in the first official pre-season friendly of the Dutchman’s reign.
Mirallas had been hacked down by former Liverpool midfielder Adam Hammill – Mersey rivalry travels across the Pennines – but got back up to bend a clinical strike into the top corner of Adam Davies’ goal.
Gerard Deulofeu added a second early in the second half, after being sent clean through by Ross Barkley, then Barkley himself slammed a high-class third into the roof of the PECnet from 18 yards.
It meant that Koeman celebrated a second successive victory after last weekend’s behind- closed- doors friendly in Austria against Czech top-flight team FK Jablonec.
It also registered a second successive clean sheet for the Toffees. How quickly times change post-Roberto Martinez.
Romelu Lukaku, on extended leave after Euro 2016, did not figure, while Phil Jagielka, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry were all missing with minor muscle strains. Barnsley old boy John Stones, who has already told Ronald Koeman he sees his future elsewhere next season, preferably 35 miles down the East Lancs Road at The Etihad Stadium – did not feature either. But it was a minor muscle strain which kept the £50million-rated defender on the sidelines rather than transfer speculation. Even without those five stars, Everton’s quality was ultimately too much for the Tykes. The Barnsley back four found Mirallas and Spanish winger Deulofeu a handful in their fifth friendly match of their preparations for the Championship season. And Deulofeu’s trickery should have seen the Premier League team go in at half-time with more goals to their name. After Alfie Mawson had volleyed against the post, another youngster, Kieran Dowell NATHAN REDMOND’S quick-fire double helped Claude Puel’s Southampton to a comfortable 4-0 win over PEC Zwolle in Holland. Charlie Austin opened the scoring after 14 minutes before Redmond took control – firing home in the 44th minute and first-half stoppage time. PierreEmile Hojbjerg added a late fourth from the spot. played Deulofeu clean through in the 13th minute. He steadied himself and shot but Davies got down well to palm wide at full-stretch. Joel Robles saved from Adam Yiadom’s firm strike then just after the half-hour the right-back got forward again to hit the side-netting from a tight angle after Hammill’s cross. Everton made only three changes at the interval – despite temperatures nudging 25 degrees – and should have extended their lead early in the second half. One of the new arrivals, Barkley, threaded a ball through for Deulofeu to race on to, but for the second time in the match the Spaniard failed to take advantage. He got the ball trapped between his feet and allowed defenders to get back and cover, Another substitute, Seamus Coleman, then pulled a cross back for Aaron Lennon to drag a shot wide And Deulofeu missed the target from 18 yards as Everton continued to waste chances before finally scoring the goal he had threatened all afternoon when Barkley’s killer pass sent him clear. This time Deulofeu tucked the ball neatly under the on-rushing keeper. After creating the second, Barkley scored the third himself with a top-class strike, swivelling and smashing the ball home. Koeman ( l e f t ) nodded satisfaction from the dugout. in