The teamsheet told the story: Nothing experimental, no unnecessary risks, just a solid line up to get the wheels turning and put a journey into motion.
It was never going to be any other way, with David Moyes, but still it was reassuring. While some of his counterparts, shuffled the desk and pulled out Jokers – a penny for your thoughts, Ruben Amorim – Everton’s manager was never going to bet the house so early.
Why would he? For Moyes to gamble with the potential of a long run in the EFL Cup, against a side as well drilled and committed as Mansfield, would have been nonsensical and there is no chance he would ever do something like that, not when the best avenue to a big day is in this competition.
Everton’s record in the League Cup has been preposterous of late. It beggars belief they haven’t been in the final since 1984, while Swansea, Luton, Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford – all with one win – have better records. Isn’t it about time they put this right?
Nobody is saying a laboured defeat of a League One team means blue bunting can be applied to the three-handled trophy but the idea of arriving in a new stadium and not daring to dream would be against everything this venue is supposed to signify.
‘Being a Premier League club has to be our priority,’ Moyes wrote in his programme notes. ‘However we all watched Newcastle win this competition last year and Crystal Palace win the FA Cup. They broke the feeling it could only be a certain group of clubs who could win the major competitions.’
Davis Moyes named a predictably strong team for Everton’s clash with Mansfield in the Carabao Cup
Carlos Alcaraz opened the scoring at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a beautiful shot fired into the roof of the net
Beto sealed the win for the Toffees in the dying embers, sending home a chance put on a plate for him by Harrison Armstrong
Good. Moyes gave West Ham fans their greatest memory in a generation in 2023 – what they would do to have that feeling just now – and you can be absolutely certain his determination to do the same here will keep him awake at night.
The irony of the last sentence, mind you, is that some watching the first period against Mansfield would have been sleepy. After all the emotion expended in Sunday’s grand opening against Brighton, it all felt a little flat and kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes as the crowd was slow to get in.
There are still teething troubles in the stadium, as things settled down, and the same is true on the pitch. It’s all very well being ambitious but that brings with it impatience and as Mansfield played with commitment and great organisation, Everton huffed and puffed.
When a match isn’t moving as it should be, Moyes has a habit of standing on the very edge of his technical area, body leant forward slightly, and glowering his unhappiness. He doesn’t rant or rave but the stare is enough to let you know standards aren’t what they should be.
Yes, there were moments – none better than Charly Alcaraz’s drive that demanded Liam Roberts fling himself low to his right to turn it away – but Mansfield, committed to playing attractive football their excellent manager expects, weren’t exactly clinging on for dear life.
Jack Grealish threatened to do something magic but, also, hoofed a fine chance over the bar. Harrison Armstrong, a young player who Moyes is enjoying working with, might have done better when he burst into the area.
Mansfield, though, couldn’t get into an area that would cause Everton alarm and they were made to pay in the 51st minute when Alcaraz fizzed a beautiful shot into the roof of the net after Armstrong showed great awareness to bring him into play.
A second goal eventually arrived – Armstrong put a pass on a plate for Beto – and there was also the first sight of Tyler Dibling, having arrived from Southampton on Monday. He’s going to be a big part in Everton’s future. It would be nice to think a shot silverware will be in the future, too.
