Match Report

An Evertonian of any pedigree knows there was nothing shocking about this result which sees the club out of the League Cup before autumn has officially begun. Everton have never won this competition and it’s highly unlikely they ever will; not just because the Carabao Cup is under threat from the burgeoning international calendar and calls for the fixture list in England to be pared down but also because the perennial down-playing of the tournament by playing weakened sides means that successive Everton managers are always playing with fire.

Rafael Benitez was the latest to get burned, the first since Marco Silva oversaw a home draw with Southampton and also saw his team eliminated on penalties in the third round three years ago.

The rationale for making wholesale changes is well-established, of course. It’s an opportunity to rest your stars and give some game time and a chance to impress for fringe or younger players against the calibre of opposition that Everton should be beating regardless of which mix of the first-team squad is out there.

In this particular instance, Benitez’s impulse to rest some key players was justifiably strong. He was already without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison and Seamus Coleman (although none of them played in the previous round at Huddersfield) and could ill afford losing any more ahead of Premier League matches against Norwich and Manchester United. As it is, he might have to be without Lucas Digne depending on the extent of the injury that forced him off this evening.

The bigger inquest really surrounds the paucity of Everton's squad and the disastrous recruitment decisions that have left the squad so shallow in terms of quality. But whenever you make wholesale changes, you leave yourself wide open to the danger of being picked off by a lower-division side and on this occasion it came at the hands of Queens Park Rangers and the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Still, given that six of the 11 that started this evening were in the line-up at Huddersfield in the previous round, where his charges still squeaked through despite going down to 10 men in the second half, the Spaniard might have expected better than the dreadful fare Everton served up for much of this contest.

He was let down badly, particularly by the centre-half pairing of Ben Godfrey and Mason Holgate who struggled to cope with veteran striker Charlie Austin before improving in the second half and a limp midfield duo of André Gomes and Tom Davies that contributed to QPR enjoying, at one stage, 70% of the ball… against a Premier League team!

He hooked Gomes and introduced both Abdoulaye Doucouré and Demarai Gray but there was never enough cohesiveness or penetration about the team to enable either to fashion or score a winner… although the Frenchman probably should have been awarded a penalty in the 74th minute when he appeared to be tripped in the box.

If Benitez was relying on a repeat of the Huddersfield tie, the early knockings might have given him comfort. Andros Townsend, who would end up head-and-shoulders the best Everton player on the pitch, offered some signs of things to come from him when he fizzed a dangerous ball across the QPR box in the seventh minute but there were no takes in black jerseys in the middle.

And more great work by Townsend six minutes later ended with the mercurial Alex Iwobi centring for Anthony Gordon and the youngster forced the first save of the match from Dieng, a strong one-handed stop down to his right.

Unfortunately, the porous nature of Everton’s below-strength midfield and right flank, where Jonjoe Kenny offered little resistance, was underscored on QPR’s first meaningful attack. Chris Willock twice made a mug of Davies before finding Ilias Chair who in turn knocked it to Sam McCallum and when Asmir Begovic could only palm his cross straight to Austin, the striker simply nodded into the empty net to make it 1-0.

After two dreadful attempts from outside the box by Gomes, Iwobi really should have put the Blues ahead a minute before Digne eventually did after an awful error by a Rangers defender who presented the Nigerian with a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper, albeit with a square pass and certain goal available to his left. Iwobi went for goal himself but was denied by an excellent save with his leg by Dieng.

The keeper was powerless to stop Digne from evening things up, though, when QPR’s offside trap was marginally sprung by a delicious ball over the top by Townsend that picked out the run of the Frenchman who calmly side-footed it home first-time.

Parity lasted just four minutes, however, as Everton’s soft centre was exploited again. This time it was Chair who swung the ball in from the Rs’ left and Austin capitalised on the yard’s worth of space afforded by Godfrey by rising above him and glancing a header inside the far post.

Two minutes later, Willock tested Begovic with a low shot as QPR threatened to embarrass the visitors but Everton made it to the break at only 2-1 down.

And with their manager’s half-time team talk no doubt ringing in their ears, they got the early goal they needed once the second period resumed. Gomes scuffed a corner to the near post, Holgate managed to knock it across into the melée in front of goal where Townsend converted from close range to make it 2-2.

That should have provided the platform from which Everton went on to win the game but they lacked the requisite cutting edge or drive in midfield even after the substitutes had been introduced. Salomon Rondon had toiled fruitlessly up front without really getting the measure of the centre-halves deployed against him and he scooped his best chance over with an ugly left-footed effort.

Doucouré, meanwhile, had a strong case for a penalty waved away 15 minutes from the end by referee Kevin Friend while Michael Keane, on as a late replacement for Digne who had picked up an ankle knock, missed a great chance to win it in the 80th minute when he pounded a corner over the crossbar with his head from a couple of yards out.

Once it had gone to penalties, Everton’s League Cup curse took over, manifesting itself in the worst spot-kick of the shoot-out from Davies who invited Dieng to save it at full-stretch and set Dunne up to be the hero with QPR’s eighth successful kick.

Gary Lineker quipped before the last round that the Carabao Cup is where a bunch of teams enter a competition and Manchester City win it at the end and there is more than element of truth about the futility of this tournament where teams like Everton are concerned.

By the same token, though, every round you progress narrows your odds and for a club like Everton, trophy-less for what will be 27 years by the time the finals of the domestic cups come around next spring, can you ever not put your best foot forward in every round and do everything possible to win a piece of silverware?

It seems as though where that question is concerned, appeasing fringe players and the Premier League are bigger priorities and the longer that mentality persists, the more slender Everton’s chances will be in one of only two competitions they actually have a realistic shot at in a given season. The 3,000 fans who packed the away end on a Tuesday night deserve much, much better.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton twice came from behind against Queens Park Rangers in the 3rd Round of the Carabao Cup only to lose after an epic penalty shoot-out after Tom Davies saw his weak attempt saved.

Key players like Richarlison, Coleman, Pickford, and Calvert Lewin might have been rested for such a game; as it is, they are ruled out with injuries for 2 or 3 weeks, along with Gbamin who has a thigh problem and is unavailable for selection.

Asmir Begovic, Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny, Mason Holgate and Anthony Gordon all start. Ellis Simms is only on the 7-man bench as Salomon Rondon starts ahead of him. No other players outside of the first-team squad are involved, with Keane, Allan, Gray, and Doucouré on the bench if needed. Still a relatively strong line-up, all things considered.

For the home side, Stephen Duke-McKenna, who Everton released as a 17-year-old from the Academy 4 years ago, is on the bench.

Everton took to the field wearing their Black Watch second strip and Tom Davies got things underway with a hoof upfield to concede possession. An early free-kick was booted long and out for a goal-kick.

It was a while before Townsend put in a decent ball from the right in Everton's first attack but no-one showed any interest in running it down. In QPR's first attack, Willock's goalbound shot was blocked. Gomes got a talking to for a foul in midfield, and from the free-kick, Godfrey conceded a corner. Iwobi seemed set to clear but he set up Austin instead for an opportunity to shoot over.

A decent attack saw Iwobi set up Gordon but he shot far too close to Dieng. Iwobi tried to shoot through two defenders. A ball seemed to run nicely forward for Iwobi but the shied away from it and the encroaching defender in typical tentative fashion.

Everton's first corner was taken on the left by Gomes but it was short and then driven through to little effect. QPR scampered up the other end and Willock tricked his way in, McCallum crossing but Begovic pushing it out for Austin to head home despite ___ on the line.

Everton won another corner, taken by Townsend from the right, and it went all the way through the penalty area. Gomes produced a weak, lame shot that dribbled wide. Gomes tried again, with a bit more power and a bit better direction... but still pretty pathetic in terms of worrying the scoreboard operator.

Willock did very well to chip a great cross to the far post, where Digne was marking his man well. QPR kept attacking, winning a corner that was headed over.

A mistake set up Iwobi who had all the time in the world and Dieng denied him with an outstretched foot. But a great ball over the QPR defence by Townsend was met first time and sent precisely between the posts from a narrow angle by Lucas Digne.

Everton worked a quick counter but it ground to a halt at the painfully slow Rondon and Townsend eventually shot harmlessly into the goalkeeper's arms. At the other end, some deft work on the wing preceded an amazing cross from Chair that Austib glanced very cleverly past Begovic and inside the post.

Willock was bold enough to test Begovic again with a stinging shot that the Everton man just about saved. Gordon and Townsend tried to create a chance but it came to nothing. QPR attacked again but Godfrey denied Austin his hat-trick, heading the ball away.

Townsend worked hard to put in a deep cross to the far post that won a corner. Gomes whipped in a real curler that almost went straight in at the other far post, where there was no black shirt to convert it.

Proceedings resumed with no changes but Everton won an early corner and somehow it ended up in the net off Townsend from close range after Holgate's initial effort had been deflected.

Rondon looked to be haled over but it was played on. A quick break led by Townsend was set up for Rondon who poorly scooped it high over the bar. But Rondon then won a corner, and Davies showed just why he hasn't scored many goals, so hopeless is he at shooting.

Townsend was taking more command but Iwobi was his usual timid self, letting the defender deal with the cross. But Iwobi did set up a great pass for Gordon that won another corner, Townsend's delivery initially not high enough but then too high when he got a second bite.

Everton started to exert more control in midfield, although Gordon was slow to take full advantage and more corners won came to nothing. Doucouré created panic when he gave the ball away just outside his own area.

Holgate slipped on the ball and Austin was in quickly but Holgate cleared it while prostrate and Kevin Friend thought little of the penalty claims. Gordon was keen to run with the ball but a little selfish when he should have played it on. Linking with Iwobi was a pointless enterprise.

Everton were poor in building anything approaching an attack and Benitz finally withdrew the lumbering Rondon in favour of Demarai Gray. A great cross in and it looked like Doucoure would convert but he was clipped from behind. Friend saw nothing wrong.

Duke-McKenna came on and did a brilliant tackle on Digne, but Austin could not convert the ensuing cross. Gordon and Digne combined for a much better cross that the keeper did well to come out and deflect.

Some better Everton passing earned another corner, with Keane coming on for Digne and heading it just over when he really should have scored. Davies was clattered by Duke-McKenna, setting up a distant free-kick. Gray chipped in a decent cross but it was headed clear with time running out and penalties looming.

A decent free-kick delivered in by Gray was anticipated very well by Dieng. Austin was denied at the other end as the game entered 3 minutes of added time. There was nervy stuff from both sides as time was played out and penalties required to settle this one.

Penalties

Holgate: Scores! ; Austin: Scores — 1-1

Keane: Scores ; Ball: Scorers — 2-2

Townsend: Scores ; Barbet: scores — 3-3

Gray: Scores ; Willock: Scores — 4-4

Gordon: scores ; Adomah: Scores — 5-5

Doucouré: scores ; Duke-McKenna: Scores — 6-6

Godfrey: saved — but off his line! Godfrey: scores ; Amos: scores — 7-7

Davies: saved! ; Dunne: scores — 7-8 QPR win

The quality of the penalty-taking had been remarkable until Tom Davies thought he could just roll one inside the post instead of striking the ball with real force. Game over. Cup run ended.

Scorers: Austin (18', 34'); Digne (30'), Townsend (47')

Queens Park Rangers: Dieng, Adomah, Dickie [Y:88'], Dunne, Barbet, McCallum [Y:49'] (66' Kakay), Ball, Dozzell (63' Amos), Chair (75' Duke-McKenna), Willock, Austin.
Subs not Used: Walsh, Thomas, Dykes, Gray.

Everton: Begovic, Kenny, Holgate, Godfrey, Digne (80' Keane), Davies, Gomes (58' Doucoure), Gordon, Iwobi, Townsend, Rondón (73' Gray).
Subs not Used: Lonergan, Allan, Branthwaite, Simms.

Referee: Kevin Friend

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton hope to use the Carabao Cup as a pick-me-up following Saturday's disappointing reverse at Aston Villa as they travel south to face Queens Park Rangers.

Normally Rafael Benitez would look to this third-round tie as an opportunity to give game time to some of the more fringe elements of the squad but, with some key players missing through injury, he now has to keep an eye on keeping the bulk of his players fresh for Saturday's clash with Norwich City while still fielding a strong enough side to progress to the next phase of the EFL Cup.

The likes of Asmir Begovic, Tom Davies, Jonjoe Kenny and Anthony Gordon might have eyed this tie to see some action but all four were involved at Villa Park and they could well find themselves in the starting XI against Championship side Rangers in what is the first meeting between the two clubs in his competition.

Benitez has also hinted that Ellis Simms might get a chance to impress now that he has recovered from injury. The young striker had a spell on loan at Blackpool last season and will be itching to pull on the jersey for the first team but the sensible money would be on him coming off the bench if things are going well while Salomon Rondon starts in a bid to up his match fitness.

There could also be opportunities for Jarrad Branthwaite and Mason Holgate, with the latter having played no part in either of the last two matches.

Like Huddersfield Town, Everton's opponents in the previous round, QPR have made a decent start to the season and they sit just behind the Terriers in the Championship table in 8th place with 12 points from eight games.

They're winless in their last three games, however, having been held at Reading and then been beaten by Bournemouth away and Bristol City at home on Saturday.

Kick-off: 7:45 pm, Tuesday 21 September 2021
Last Time: QPR 1 - 2 Everton (Premier League, March 2015)

Lyndon Lloyd

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