Lincoln proud after Richarlison clearance saves Everton blushes
It has become a familiar sight on FA Cup third-round weekend, lowerleague visitors to Premier League venues accepting generous applause from the home crowd.
Sadly for Lincoln City, it usually means they have suffered honourable defeat. So it proved for the Cowley brothers management team, beaten with their reputation enhanced.
They made Everton sweat for the win, ensuring the gulf in class between the top flight and League Two was not always obvious. Only Richarlison’s late goalline clearance prevented a replay.
“For the people of Everton to stay and give us the applause they did made us proud,” said Danny Cowley, the senior brother on the coaching team. “I think they appreciated a set of working-class boys trying their hardest.
“We were the width of a goalline from an equaliser. We fought hard. You could argue we finished the stronger.”
Cowley feared the worst when two goals down after 14 minutes but his players responded with courage and adventure, Michael Bostwick halving the deficit before half-time.
It was a victory Marco Silva desperately needed to stop the rot but the flaws of recent weeks were still evi Callum dent. Everton particularly need a new No9, not just to add goals but hold up the ball. Silva tried Dominic Calvert Lewin and Cenk Tosun in either half. They need more.
The honeymoons are shorter at Everton these days. Now, after an encouraging start, Silva can hear grumbles. He needed this win, no matter how hard-fought.
Lincoln were unforgiving opponents, one of those no-win ties when victory would be accompanied with muttering about the least expected, and anything else met with the jeers heard too often at Goodison Park recently
There seemed little possibility of a repeat of such negativity when Everton’s brisk start brought two early goals. Leighton Baines was outstanding on his recall, his left-wing deliveries consistently finding their target.
Ademola Lookman headed Everton in front from a Baines cross after 12 minutes, defender Harry Anderson fortunate the looping ball had crossed the line before his handball, which would have yielded a penalty and certain red card. Two minutes later they doubled the lead with excellent combination football, Bernard taking Calvert-Lewin’s clever pass and delicately chipping advancing goalkeeper Josh Vickers. Then Everton’s players inexplicably stopped working the ball on to Baines’s left foot and were undone by appalling marking from set-pieces as Lincoln took control.
“For 20 minutes we did well, with intensity, then we lost focus and gave them some hope. It has happened too often,” said Silva.
The quality of Michael O’Connor’s free-kick was partially responsible as they cut the gap after 28 minutes, Jordan Pickford initially saving Jason Shackell’s header before Bostwick pounced. The discomfort of Yerry Mina and Kurt Zouma in defence grew. Silva’s displeasure was clear when he made a double substitution at half-time, Andre Gomes and Tosun replacing Tom Davies and Calvert-Lewin. The ultimate compliment came ten minutes from time when, having failed to kill the game, Silva had no option but to introduce Richarlison. The Brazilian’s crucial intervention was in his own penalty area, clearing Shackell’s goalbound header. Lincoln’s vociferous fans loved what they saw. Evertonians’ optimism will continue to sap if they do not reinforce.