Frank Lampard has admitted Everton's slow play in the first-half was "interesting" as his side played out a 2-0 win over Boreham Wood on Thursday.
The Blues advanced to the quarter-final of the FA Cup thanks to a double from Salomon Rondon after the interval, with Richarlison also having a goal ruled out.
Everton will now take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the next stage of the competition later this month.
Lampard told his post-match press conference: "In terms of the game, it was comfortable in the end.
"We were slow in the first half, which is interesting for me because this type of game needs an injection of tempo and pace with the level we normally play at. We were below that.
"But we addressed it at half time, the players did, and we were sharper in the second half.
"We're through to the next round, and these games are not easy. Especially if you don't score early, but I thought we dealt with elements of the game well."
Having struggled to create regular opportunities in the first-half, the Blues looked much sharper after the break.
Everton scored both of their two goals after the interval, and Lampard believes his players reacted well to a "clear message" he sent in the dressing room.
He added: "I did, but I'm here not that long and I have to understand that the players need to hear a message - not just for me to shout at them about how slow they're playing.
"So we try to make a clear message. We made a change to get Richarlison [on], get another player behind their midfield line and give them more problems.
"The players reacted really well to that which I'm pleased about. We saw some of the not-so-good things, in a game where you go and get the comfortable result in the end sometimes it's good to flush those out.
"I've got no problem with how the game went.
"We've had some injuries, we've had some problems. We were playing players today that I wanted to rest but couldn't.
"But we just have to keep going and use the feeling of the club at the moment to move forward."
