That the moment of quality that changed this game was provided by Everton starlet Harrison Armstrong felt fitting on a big occasion under the lights of Goodison Park.
Identified as a prospect ahead of his years, the 17-year-old has spent this season performing above his age group, his responsibility shifting to a half-time attempt to change the game as his side was overwhelmed at Bournemouth at the weekend.
His promotion meant Under-18s boss Leighton Baines has been deprived of the youngster’s prowess all season – apart from an FA Youth Cup tie in which, fittingly, the midfielder marked his return to the youth ranks with a stunning hat-trick.
So on Thursday night, with the pair reunited as Baines took control of the first team following the departure of Sean Dyche hours before kick-off, it was poetry that the U18s boss was helped out by one of the club’s U18 stars.
This FA Cup tie had been drifting towards the break when the England youth international collected the ball midway inside Peterborough United’s half. His through ball to Beto, and the striker’s run, were timed so well it looked like Beto was yards offside. The flag, rightly, stayed down though and Beto displayed more composure than other strikers in royal blue have been able to muster over recent months as he rounded Nicholas Bilokapic and finished from an angle.
It was a goal that eased the anxiety heading into the break. While Everton had dominated up to the opener, chances had been at a premium and were limited to two tame efforts from Beto and an Orel Mangala volley that shook the goalkeeper’s crossbar.
While Everton, switching to an imposing centre back partnership of Jarrad Branthwaite, Michael Keane and Jake O’Brien, were rarely placed under pressure they did survive one scare when Cian Hayes thrashed a half-volley goalwards. Stand-in number one Joao Virginia was grateful to the bodies of O’Brien and Branthwaite as they blocked an effort that served as a reminder of how precarious the scoreline was at the time.
Armstrong’s magic changed that and it was testament to a talent whose rise had been sanctioned by Dyche but who, like many in this Everton squad, appeared stymied by the lack of creativity inspired by the now former Blues manager.
Another of those players was Nathan Patterson. Handed the opportunity to play right wing back he rampaged down the flank and crossed with menace. Emmanuel Fernandez was forced to head one well-weighted ball over the bar and in the early stages of the second half he nutmegged a defender in the corner before pulling back to Idrissa Gueye, only for the Senegal international to fire high over the bar.
For all of the changes to the Everton line-up, Baines said before kick-off that it was Dyche’s XI. That may have been the case but this felt like a different Everton to that of the final weeks of a manager who had twice produced remarkable survival campaigns but had struggled to push the side forward in this, the third season in which he had led the club. Everton are the superior of the sides and were composed on the night, even if they laboured to this 2-0 victory.
Baines was the leader to deliver it and he was supported in the dugout by club captain Seamus Coleman. This was a feel-good partnership that inspired a loud roar from the home faithful when they were announced just before kick-off.
The pair spent much of this match working the touchline in tandem, as they did so well together all those years ago. Baines watched attentively, Coleman surged forward every now and then to applaud his teammates and deliver instructions. The pair held pitchside conferences and reacted in unison as their players fought for loose balls. Love, desire and passion for their club was present in abundance, even if touchline experience was absent. On the final whistle there were no theatrics. After Coleman had greeted every player off the pitch, the pair simply shared a handshake and a fond embrace. Job done.
This may have been Dyche’s line-up but it was their side. Baines said he had made a few tweaks and asked his squad to “produce a bright, dynamic performance that is appropriate for Goodison Park”.
They certainly tried. Armstrong grew in confidence following his inspired assist, pulling the strings from the middle of the pitch in the second half. Patterson attacked with verve and, most notable, gone were the long balls from the back that characterised the Dyche era.
That may have been why the scoreline was so tight, Everton’s players going through the motions as they re-learned the passing game after 23 months of sometimes effective, increasingly aimless, route one.
A routine second half ended with extreme twists. Armando Broja, having recovered from injury at Bournemouth to make the bench, was stretchered off with minutes to go after a robust but fair challenge by Fernandez. The striker has only played six times since his arrival on loan from Chelsea in the summer and the fear is that, after missing the first four months of the campaign, he will now face another extended period on the sidelines at a time when his side is struggling for goals.
Everton did finish this game off with a second though, Iliman Ndiaye calmly rolling in after Branthwaite was hauled down by Jadel Katongo.
This was not a perfect display. It was a reminder there is work to do with a squad that has its limits. Everton are in a relegation battle and the road ahead is challenging, whether it be frontrunner and former boss David Moyes or someone else who takes over.
But this was a step forward. A win. A goal from open play – and from a striker, the first since the same striker scored in stoppage time against Fulham in October. A partnership in the dugout that inspired hope rather than frustration. A breakthrough moment for a young star and the scrubbing from the memory of the awful Carabao Cup defeat to Southampton that, before this, had threatened to be the final cup match at Goodison.
Everton supporters have fought through years of hard nights. There are more to come. Thankfully, amid another period of tumult, this was not one of them.
