Doucoure strike grinds down the plucky Millers
EVERTON 2 Tosun (9), Doucoure (93) ROTHERHAM UNITED 1 Olosunde (56)
Assistant manager Duncan Ferguson admits Everton’s failure to finish off Rotherham left them fearful of a late shock after the Toffees scraped through after extra-time.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti made eight changes, but saw his side labour against a side second-bottom of the Championship as Abdoulaye Doucoure scored the winner three minutes into the additional period.
Matt Olosunde’s first senior goal had cancelled out Cenk Tosun’s early opener as the Millers pushed their Premier League opposition all the way.
“It was a tough match so you are always fearing the worst when they got a corner in the last minute so it was a wee bit of relief,” Ferguson said.
“I thought we started the game well, got an early goal, Cenk took his goal well. I thought we had the best of the first 25 minutes and then Rotherham came back, pushed us all the way and got the equaliser.
“It was a tough game for us and one we were delighted to get through.”
Tosun scored his first Everton goal since November 2019 and Ferguson was pleased to see the Turkey international back on the scoresheet.
“I thought he took his goal well, finished the first one off and was unlucky with the second but it was a good finish,” he added.
What began with the appearance of a behind-closed-doors friendly arranged primarily for James Rodriguez to sharpen his fitness, given free rein by Ancelotti to roam where he liked, turned into something of an ordeal for Everton.
The Colombia international’s movement pulled Rotherham’s defence out of position to allow the 19-year-old Anthony Gordon to turn his marker Michael Ihiekwe and his inviting through-ball down the inside-left channel was dinked over the advancing Millers custodian Jamal Blackman by Tosun in the ninth minute.
Just this week the Turkey international, with one eye on this summer’s Euro 2020, revealed he was considering his future with the club this month and while the goal was a much-needed confidence boost little else about his play suggested he has much to offer Ancelotti.
His goal should have given the hosts a platform to go on and dominate, but in the 30 minutes to half-time Rotherham were the better side, with Swedish keeper Robin Olsen, on loan from AS Roma, making a double save from Olosunde and then Dan Barlaser, before Matt Crooks flicked a near-post header onto the roof of the net. Despite having the lead Everton were second-best for the remainder of the first half and within 10 minutes of the second were made to pay.
Wing-back Olusunde capitalised on a weak Tom Davies header back towards his own goal to turn and fire a shot across Olsen and inside the far post.
Ancelotti sent on the cavalry in the guises of Doucoure, Bernard, Yerry Mina – replacing Lucas Digne after his first appearance since ankle surgery in November – and Icelandic ace Gylfi Sigurdsson in two quick double substitutions in an attempt to change the momentum.
Everton won their first corner in the 73rd minute from a Rodriguez deflected shot, but it was hardly the turnaround the Toffees boss expected.
Tosun thought he had won it three minutes from time by diverting in Rodriguez’s freekick, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside.
The Turk then later denied making an offensive hand gesture, linked to a Turkish ultranationalist group, when celebrating the disallowed goal.
But three minutes into the additional period there was no denying midfielder Doucoure, who slotted home from Rodriguez’s pass to put thee home side into the ascendancy.
Bernard should have killed off the game, but whacked a shot against a post, but the visitors could not force another equaliser.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne felt had his side won, there would have been no complaints.
“I was really pleased. The only disappointment for me was the first five or 10 minutes, I think we showed them too much respect which I warned them about in the dressing room,” Warne said.
“I thought we took the game to them after we conceded and I thought we were the better side in the first half.
“We could have got a 2-1 win and no-one would have complained about it.
“For us to come here and compete against a team three or four points off the top of the Premier League shows how well we performed today so I am proud of that.”