Silva and Everton learn from past shock

Marco Silva said that lessons learnt from Everton’s FA Cup defeat at Millwall in January played a part as they overcome a lively League One opponent to progress to a thirdround tie at Sheffield Wednesday.

The Premier League team conceded a goal inside the first 20 seconds, recovered to lead 2-1, but were pegged back again by Lincoln before two goals in the last 10 minutes saw them through. Everton had beaten Lincoln 2-1 at Goodison Park last season before coming a cropper at the Den.

“You have to learn from the bad moments,” Silva, the manager, said. “After the fans saw us concede a goal in the first minute and again after we had been 2-1 maybe they became a bit anxious.

“But I want the players to show their personality in these moments and we did that as a team.”

Harry Anderson gave Lincoln a breathtaking start, driving the ball past Jordan Pickford after 18 seconds. Lucas Digne, with a superb free-kick from 30 yards, equalised before half-time and Gylfi Sigurdsson edged Silva’s side in front from the penalty spot after 59 minutes.

Bruno Andrade then equalised for Lincoln with a stunning volley before Alex Iwobi restored Everton’s lead in his first start for the club and Richarlison added a fourth.

Danny Cowley, the Lincoln manager, was proud of his team’s performance, having matched Silva in making five changes to his line-up.

“They put out a very strong team, with world-class players, which showed respect for us after we played them in the FA Cup last year,” he said. “We had a moment at 2-2 and didn’t take it, but Everton had to play at the top of their game to beat us. Some performances go well beyond what it says in the win, draw or loss column and that was one from my players.”