Everton were praised by stand-in manager Leighton Baines after they recorded a 2-0 FA Cup win against Peterborough just hours after the sacking of Sean Dyche.
Former full-back Baines, who has been in charge of Everton’s under-18s, and club captain Seamus Coleman were announced as interim managers just three hours before the third round tie at Goodison Park.
Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye saw the Premier League side safely through and Baines said: “I thought their application was brilliant.
“Losing managers and coaches isn’t what anyone wants, that normally means something hasn’t gone quite right, and that’s never on one person, it’s on a lot of people that are involved in it.
Two Everton Greats stepping up under the lights at Goodison Park. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/x1NySCxM7a
— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2025
“A manager losing his job isn’t good and it normally follows a difficult period, not just a difficult day, and it has been that.
“But I think within all of that there’s definitely now got to be hope and optimism. That’s something we’ve spoken about. Things are changing, the football club, the ownership, the stadium.
“The manager’s had to leave and that’s not what anyone wants. But there will be a new manager coming in and that brings opportunity.”
Baines, who stressed he was not thinking of putting himself forward for the permanent job and that he did not know if he would still be in the interim role come next Wednesday, also spoke about Armando Broja after the forward came off on a stretcher late on.
He said: “It looked bad. We don’t know the extent of it, other than it’s a lower leg injury, but he hasn’t been taken to hospital, so I’ve taken that as a good sign.”
Ashley Young came on for Everton in the 73rd minute, but the introduction of his son Tyler Young from the Peterborough bench did not materialise.
And Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “If the game had been 2-0 at that point I would have put him on, but it’s 1-0, I’ve got to get a forward on.
“We’re not a charity case, as much as I wanted Tyler to get on with his Dad.
“One of their (Everton’s) players had a bit of a pop at me, which is bang out of order. I’ve got to do what is best for our team and at that point, 1-0, I’m trying to get a result.”
