David Unsworth insists his Everton players must use their Leasing.com Trophy defeat to Fleetwood Town as a learning experience after the play-off chasing League One outfit ran out 4-0 winners at Goodison Park.
Everton were competing in the knockout stages of the competition for the first time but saw their hopes of a last-16 spot dashed by a clinical Fleetwood outfit.
Danny Andrew volleyed the away side into the lead on two minutes and goals deep into the second half from Paul Coutts, Paddy Madden and Wes Burns put the gloss on the scoreline.
Everton more than matched their experienced opponents for extended periods of the match.
Anthony Gordon, Oumar Niasse and Ryan Astley had chances as Everton upped the ante in the first half, while Antony Evans saw a free-kick strike the post after the break.
As the Blues committed men forward in search of an equaliser, though, Fleetwood punished the Blues with three late goals.
“Conceding in the second minute deflated everybody and we had to do a rebuild job,” Unsworth told evertonfc.com.
“And we did. We came back in the first half and created three great opportunities.
“In the second half, we conceded a sloppy goal at a time when we were opening the game up a little bit. Then we went for it, played two strikers, and we have no complaints from there.
“They showed their class and punished us for being a man down in midfield.
“Hopefully it’s been a great learning curve for the players in this competition. I wish we could play against this calibre of team every week, because it will improve the players so much.
“Fleetwood are going really well in the league. They picked a very strong team which was a real pat on the back for us, that they took the game so seriously. Their senior players were the difference. I thought their attitudes and performances were top-class.”
Fleetwood got off to a dream start at Goodison, with Andrew rifling in after a well-rehearsed counter routine.
Fleetwood skipper Coutts floated a cross towards to the 18-yard line where Andrew was lurking with intent. Coutts’ delivery was accurate but the full-back still had plenty to do and he thumped a volley into the bottom corner of Harry Tyrer’s goal.
The away team enjoyed the better of the opening quarter-of-an-hour and Ched Evans headed over from when well-positioned.
Everton gradually established a foothold in the game and it was no surprise that – when the Blues fashioned a first chance of note – the livewire Gordon was the man who almost made the scores level.
His effort came after a slick Everton move. A deft Evans flick found Dennis Adeniran, who dug out a cross for Niasse. The striker held the ball up well before laying it off to Gordon, who was looking for his eighth goal of the season. The England Under-19 international shot hard and low, but his strike went fractions past the post.
Niasse was next to go close for Everton. The Senegalese superbly jinked his way past two challenges before hammering a shot fractions wide. Fleetwood keeper Billy Crellin was well beaten.
Everton continued to play on the front foot for the remainder of the half and Astley saw a powerful shot blocked after he got on the end of Matthew Foulds’ centre.
The Blues continued to press in the second half and Evans’ swerving free-kick cannoned off the post.
Fleetwood were to strike the next blow, though, and the impressive Coutts fired in from the edge of the box 15 minutes from time.
As Everton poured forward, substitute Madden made the game safe when he burst through on goal before rounding Tyrer and placing his shot into the top corner.
Wes Burns completed the scoring with a cool finish on 87 minutes.
“The players will learn from the reality of playing in the competition - the speed and physicality that is needed [at senior level],” Unsworth added.
“Your fitness levels have got to be there and your tactical nous has to be there in every second of the game.
“Also, the fact that when you’re not in the right positions, you get punished. [Assistant manager] John Ebbrell and I talk about the shape of the team without the ball so much in training and in games.
“Sometimes the players don’t get punished in Under-23 level. With our experience, we know at the top level you will get punished.
“When we opened the game up, we got done when our players weren’t in the right positions. We’ll show them that and keep banging that drum.”
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Fleetwood Town head coach Joey Barton spoke after his side’s 4-0 win over Everton U21s at Goodison Park on Tuesday night.
On the game and the result
“It was a great performance. I thought in the first half we were guilty of playing at their tempo at times and not at our own and that’s what I spoke about at half-time.
“I wanted the players to lift it to see if Everton could compete with us and the score line shows that it wasn’t possible for them.
“For Everton, tonight will be a great learning experience and that is what the competition is for, and on the flip side for us, we are in it and with the strong squad we have this season.
“It allows us to use it as an opportunity to players who haven’t played much in the league campaign some minute. Six changes we made before and players also came on with Kyle Dempsey and Paddy Madden, and those two gave real impetus to our performance.
“We looked a threat when the ball was in transition and looked like we would score on every attack and in the last twenty minutes, it was good to see the hard work we’ve put in pay off.”
On the second half and the quality in front of goal…
“In the first half the lads were half a yard away from where we needed them to be. We adjusted that and in the second half, the lads put on a performance and deservedly progress into the next round.
“Players in the front line have got themselves on the scoresheet and with Wes, he has another goal to his name which will without a doubt help his confidence.
“With Paddy, he can’t stop scoring at the minute and with 14 goals to his name already this season, it’s great season and a challenge for others to catch him up.
“Paddy scores goals when he comes off the bench and when he starts and probably a frustration for him and myself is that he is a huge impact when coming off the bench, especially in the last 30 minutes and we’ve challenged him about his overall game, and he is really working hard and that is credit to him.
“With Danny’s goal, it was meant to be worked on the other side of the pitch for him to try and get his first of the season, but it was worked well to Danny who showed his quality.”
On the clean sheet….
“I am delighted for the clean sheet. Jimmy Dunne and Peter Clarke were outstanding against Oumar Niasse, who I have seen play and ruff up Premier League centre-halves and cause them problems.
“Jimmy is a young defender who is learning his trade, and Clarkey is very experience and like me, an Evertonian and it was great to come here and win, but it would be nice to come here in the FA Cup Third Round.”
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Fleetwood Town midfielder Paul Coutts spoke to the media after scoring his first goal for the club in Town’s 4-0 win over Everton U21s.
On the performance…
“I think the second-half was good. We were a little bit slow starting in the first-half, but we got a quick goal and that obviously settled us down but we soon fell into playing at their tempo.
“The gaffer (Joey Barton) got into us at half-time, and in the second-half we were much better. I think we needed to play at our tempo rather than at theirs, and we just needed to raise it, and when we did, our quality shone through.”
On scoring his first goal for the club…
“I’m delighted! I am not delighted with the gif I have just seen, it’s one I’ve just been reminded of. I honestly didn’t think I would actually score, however it’s nice to get a goal and my first one for the club.”
On playing at Goodison Park…
“It would’ve been nicer if it was full, but it was good to play here. It’s the first time I’ve ever played at Goodison Park and it’s a great pitch, a great surface to play on.
“These games are difficult. They (Everton) are in a no-lose situation; whereas we are in a situation where you are expected to go and beat them, and they’re your typical academy side that play with freedom and no expectation on them – they just try to play good football.
“All the pressure was on us to go and beat them, and thankfully we went on to do that.”
