Everton’s reunited front three spark fresh hope of first trophy in 26 years
The end of Everton’s five-year wait to reach the FA Cup fifth round might imply they have had other more pressing priorities.
In fact, their unwanted record – finally over after an easy win over a young Sheffield Wednesday side – is more curious than it seems in an era when the early rounds of the Cup are perceived as a chance for squad rotation. Unlike many other Premier League owners, Farhad Moshiri has made no secret of how important he considers the competition.
One of the club’s favourite anthems played before every home game namechecks Harry Catterick’s 1966 FA Cup win, which was won against last night’s vanquished South Yorkshire opponents.
Victory at Wembley in 1984 is recalled fondly for kick-starting the Howard Kendall era. And Everton’s last trophy in 1995 was this one, when a semi-final victory over a strongly fancied Tottenham Hotspur was arguably the club’s most complete performance that decade.
After easing past Wednesday, the more superstitious among the club’s fan base may not be too perturbed if Jose Mourinho’s side see off Wycombe tonight to become the next obstacle to ending a 26-year trophy drought.
Carlo Ancelotti was reminded of Everton’s cherished Cup history upon his appointment. His selection against Championship strugglers Wednesday showed he was not prepared to risk the same mistake that almost proved costly in the last
round, when he rested many senior players and was taken into extra time by Rotherham.
Dominic Calvert-lewin had not featured since Jan 1. He was reuniting with Richarlison and James Rodriguez for the first time in a couple of months longer than that. As an attacking force Everton look like they have had a fashion makeover whenever their first-choice front three are unleashed.
Calvert-lewin was duly back among the goals, and Rodriguez reestablished himself as the creator supreme, Richarlison and Yerry Mina both beneficiaries.
“They will go from strength to strength the more they play together,” said assistant manager Duncan Ferguson. “James is tremendous on the ball with great vision, and when Dominic makes the runs he can find him. James was sensational.”
The first reminder of Rodriguez’s ability to deliver passes others do not see came after 13 minutes, Richarlison penalised, after a Var review, for what looked the closest of offsides when beating keeper Joe Wildsmith. It was an early sign Wednesday’s youngsters did not possess the tools to contain their hosts. Had Gylfi Sigurdsson and Calvert-lewin’s touch been as exquisite as Rodriguez’s vision, they would have been supplied with a one-onone apiece. They acknowledged the quality of the assists after cursing their miscontrol.
Instead, Everton took the lead after 29 minutes when Andre Gomes was granted the space to whip across the six-yard box, where Calvert-lewin stretched ever sinew to divert past Wildman. It was the kind of poacher’s finish the England striker is making his hallmark.
Victory was a formality once Everton were ahead, even though Wednesday’s resistance prevented further damage until the 59th minute. The visitors could only muster splutters of threat. Adam Reach tested Everton keeper Robin Olsen with a fourth-minute stinger from 25 yards, and occasional set-pieces reminded Ancelotti nothing could be taken for granted without the security of a second goal.
That arrived when Rodriguez’s corner was flicked in by Richarlison’s header. A minute later, Wildsmith’s outstanding save prevented the Brazilian adding a third, but the reprieve was brief. Mina replicated Richarlison’s goal, Rodriguez again the supplier from the set-piece.
That gave Ancelotti the luxury of subbing his front three in the latter stages and making 16-year-old Thierry Small Everton’s youngest ever player. That was a memorable final touch on a night when Everton reaped the reward of going strong. There will be no more rotation in this Cup run.