Bernard proves pure gold for Silva BUT TAME TOFFEES FAIL TO SPARKLE
MARCO SILVA finally found some home comfort — but this was not a performance that will lift the mood on the blue half of Merseyside.
Everton won their first game at Goodison since November 24 as they saw off League Two leaders Lincoln to book a place in the FA Cup fourth round.
But it was a struggle and
Toffees boss Silva admitted they lost focus as they narrowly avoided being a new chapter in Lincoln’s recent FA Cup folklore.
Everton were 2-0 up after just 14 minutes thanks to Ademola Lookman and Bernard, but were dragged into a battle by the Imps, who pulled one back through Michael Bostwick.
“After the second goal, we lost the focus and gave them some hope,” said Silva (above).
“It is something that has happened in the last few games and it is something we have to stop. In that moment we could have scored the third and fourth goal, but they make it 2-1.”
Everton came into the tie on the back of just one win in eight Premier League games and had lost four on the trot at home.
Silva picked a strong team, but it was two rare starters who combined in the 12th minute with Lookman heading Leighton Baines’ cross over Josh Vickers.
Bernard then raced through after a good pass from Dominic Calvert-lewin and the Brazilian chipped the keeper for his first Everton goal.
However Lincoln, who reached the quarter-finals two years ago as a nonLeague club, were not going out without a fight.
Jason Shackell’s header from a Michael O’connor free- kick was saved by Jordan Pickford but Bostwick prodded home the rebound in the 28th minute.
Suddenly Everton were looking shaky. They regrouped at the break and Gylfi Sigurdsson forced Vickers into a good stop from distance.
Lincoln brought on striker Matt Rhead, the only player left from the team that dumped Burnley out of the fifth round two years ago, as they pushed.
But it was Everton sub Richarlison who cleared off the line as Shackell headed a corner goalwards late on, ensuring there was no fairytale finish for Lincoln and their managerial duo of brothers Danny and Nicky Cowley.
Danny said: “I think we can be really proud.
“When you are 2- 0 down at a Premier League team you can fear the worst but we had the confidence to go toe-to-toe and weren’t that far away from getting a draw.”