EVERTON 5 (Mirallas 16, 29, Osman 22, Anichebe 35, Gueye 67) – LEYTON ORIENT 0
The Toffees maintained their impressive start to the season with a clinical dismissal of their visitors from East London at Goodison last night. David Moyes rested Tim Howard, Marouane Fellaini, Nikica Jelavic, Steven Pienaar and Sylvain Distin, but still picked a strong starting eleven, and used the opportunity to give Kevin Mirallas his full debut, which he marked with two goals and two assists in this rout of League One side Leyton Orient. Such was Everton’s dominance that the tie was effectively over inside 25 minutes.
With Saturday’s Premier League encounter at the Hawthorns in mind and with the score 4-0 at half-time Moyes was able to take off Jagielka, Baines and Osman and give youngsters Shane Duffy, Luke Garbutt and Ross Barkley some much needed game time. Indeed Everton were down to ten men for the last fifteen minutes as, having used all three substitutes, skipper Phil Neville went off with what looked like a hamstring injury.
New signing Mirallas, who seems likely to be joined at Everton by 17-year-old Kilmarnock winger Matthew Kennedy, was involved in all four first-half goals. However he was not the only new signing to impress. Steven Naismith, on his first start at Goodison since his arrival from Rangers, also toyed with a weak Orient defence and the eye for the angled pass into the area from both summer signings augurs well.
The Scot and the Belgian international combined for the first goal on 16 minutes. Naismith’s perfectly weighted pass released Mirallas on the right of the Orient area and the striker’s calm finish into the bottom corner oozed class. Naismith had already sent Magaye Gueye through for a clear shot on goal, saved well by Kirby born former Everton apprentice Jamie Jones.
Just six minutes later Mirallas adroitly back-heeled a Leighton Baines delivery straight into the path of Leon Osman, who steered the ball beyond Jones. Mirallas plundered his second goal when he darted inside from the left and sent Gueye’s pass through the legs of Nathan Clarke and in off the keeper.
Russell Slade’s Orient were offering little resistance and Vic Anichebe added a fourth before half-time. Once again Kevin Mirallas was at the heart, setting up the burly Nigerian for a low 20-yard finish that flew under Jones. Orient improved and showed some resilience in the second half but number five came when the excellent Seamus Coleman, playing at right-back, chipped across the penalty area for Magaye Gueye to volley powerfully home.
Everton (4-1-3-2): Mucha; Coleman, Jagielka (Garbutt 46), Heitinga, Baines (Duffy 46); Neville ©; Naismith, Osman (Barkley 46), Gueye; Anichebe, Mirallas
Unused subs: Howard, Distin, Jelavic, Vellios
Leyton Orient (4-4-2): Jones; James (McSweeney 47), Chorley, Clarke, Sawyer; Smith, Baudry, Griffith (Rowlands 56), Cox; Lisbie, Odubajo (Cook 74)
Unused subs: Allsop, Symes, Blunt, Mooney
Referee: Roger East
Gate: 24,124
Great performance though against some sub-standard opposition, however with Baines and Neville picking up knocks in an already threadbare squad why were so many first team players playing?
I understand Naismith and Mirallas playing to gain fitness, Heitinga also. But Baines and in particular Neville at 34 should have been rested, Garbutt and Junior should have been given time to prove their worth. I know the reserves got stuffed 5-1 the other day, but ultimately Everton were never going to lose to Orient. Ironically Garbutt may get a full game if Baines doesn’t recover, Junior though is a mystery!