EVERTON HIT FIVE, CHELSEA SIX AND NEWCASTLE SEVEN
BLUES THROUGH DESPITE GAFFE
JORDAN PICKFORD’S blunder made this a more uncomfortable night for Everton than it needed to be but they continued their winning start to the season.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team led 2-0 at the break thanks to two welltaken goals from Richarlison, but England keeper Pickford gave Fleetwood encouragement two minutes after the interval.
He tried to play out from the back, but his pass was charged down and half- time sub Mark Duffy scored with his first touch.
Alex Iwobi quickly restored Everton’s twogoal lead but Joey Barton’s battlers refused to lie down and Pickford ( right) was unable to keep out Callum Camp’s overhead kick.
Bernard and Moise Kean eased Everton anxiety with two more goals to give them a fourth straight win – something they have not done in domestic matches from the start of a season in the Premier League era.
Ancelotti’s team adapted well to the surroundings by dominating the first half.
Unlike against Salford in the previous round, when he made 10 changes, Ancelotti this time made six and fielded a strong team with Pickford, Michael Keane, Luca Digne, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert- Lewin staying in the starting line-up from the 5-2 trouncing of West Brom, while Fabian Delph made his first appearance of the season in midfield.
To put their contrasting managerial experience into context, Barton was still building a reputation as a talented but troublesome midfielder at Manchester
City in 2007 when Ancelotti was winning the second of his three Champions Leagues.
Everton’s starting line-up cost more than £150million even with their three new signings – James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan – rested. But they were kept on their toes by Fleetwood.
Moments after the lively Iwobi’s deflected shot struck the bar Everton took the lead with a goal made in Brazil. Bernard’s classy pass over the top of the de fence picked out Richarlison (above), who guided home a header.
Iwobi and Bernard went close and Everton did not have long to wait for their domination to pay off once more, with Richarlison again on target. It should have been three at the break but keeper
Alex Cairns denied Calvert-Lewin when Keane’s pass put him clear.
Pickford’s blunder allowed Duffy to score and give Fleetwood a lift, and they made much more of a game of it.
Iwobi capped a fine performance by rifling home before Camp made it 3-2.
Everton, so in control in the first half, were wobbling for a period but Bernard’s quality finish from Gordon’s set- up and Kean’s