It was almost inevitable that the two current worst teams in the Premier League would require a penalty shootout to settle their Carabao Cup third round tie. In the end, after 90 forgettable minutes, Southampton earned a somewhat morale-boosting sudden-death victory over Everton.
Both teams have each failed to trouble the points column in their opening four league games and the lack of confidence was telling at Goodison Park. Abdoulaye Doucouré and Taylor Harwood-Bellis traded first-half headers but everything was decided from 12 yards, as Ashley Young saw the 12th spot-kick saved by Alex McCarthy.
There was obvious discontent in the stands as Sean Dyche was repeatedly criticised throughout the night, culminating with the much-maligned Young being the ultimate culprit in the defeat. Being out of the competition will do little to worry Everton and Dyche, allowing them to offer further focus onto what will be a relegation fight.
That battle continues at Leicester on Saturday where a fifth league defeat will increase the pressure, although those inside the club remain calm. Their main concern is completing a much-protracted takeover, complicated by a new bid from the Friedkin Group this week, despite John Textor having a period of exclusivity running until the end of November.
“Inevitably we wanted to win the game and we haven’t done, albeit going to penalties, which is always a tricky one,” Dyche said. “From the team’s point of view, after piecing together a team this morning, with three players going down ill overnight, I think we’ve given as good as we can get with the players available. I think we’ve got 12 outfield players currently fit or not ill.
“This game against Leicester coming up on the weekend, it feels like ... the truth at the moment is that, and you certainly know, we’ve had a lot of challenges since I’ve been in the club. It’s been a constant challenge, more or less. This is another one of them.”
Understandably there was a lack of rhythm from both sides after an overhaul in personnel from the weekend, with 18 changes made between the two teams. The nature of the fixture brought a tame atmosphere, although considering the home supporters think they need to go three goals ahead to be in with a chance of even drawing, their muted nature was inevitable.
In the end it was a corner that raised the noise levels when Jake O’Brien just about kept a Jesper Lindstrøm inswinger in play after McCarthy failed to deal with it, allowing Michael Keane to nod towards goal where Doucouré was awaiting to help it on its way beyond the goalkeeper.
Southampton levelled soon after Roman Dixon needlessly took down Ryan Fraser on the right, gifting the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position. Charlie Taylor whipped it to the back post and Harwood-Bellis had the worryingly easy task of heading home. Set pieces were the name of the game, with limited quality on show.
The fans’ frustration was eventually verbalised when Dyche took off lone striker Beto, replacing him with Young and moving Iliman Ndiaye into a central role, causing sections of the Everton fans to boo the manager for the negativity. “I’ve never questioned the fans there and I’m certainly not going to,” Dyche said. “They’ve been amazing since I’ve been here.”
The countdown to the penalty shootout started long before the final whistle. Every backwards pass from an Everton player was met with a groan and the Southampton supporters who had made the 480-mile round journey were plotting which podcast they would fall asleep to on the coach home.
João Virgínia spent the seconds in the buildup to the shootout wondering where to hide his bottle containing his revision, so no one could steal his secrets. The homework from both goalkeepers was looking futile as the first 10 were scored without a glove being laid on the ball. In the end it took Young to smash one at McCarthy in sudden death to end the match with a metaphorical shrug.
“We’ve hurt ourselves a lot in the first four games and a lot of that is down to a bit of anxiety and a bit of fear at the Premier League for some of the guys going into it for the first time, some of the guys being hurt by it last time,” Southampton’s manager Russell Martin said. “I feel like we’re going to grow through that and we just need that first result. Once we get that, I’m really excited about what the group is capable of achieving because we have a young, hungry group that are willing to do brilliant things.”
