Liverpool, Jan 10 (NationPress) Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye propelled Everton into the fourth round of the FA Cup on the same day the club parted ways with manager Sean Dyche.
News of Dyche's dismissal arrived mere hours before the match commenced, with Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman stepping in as interim managers for the Toffees.
In a clash against League One side Peterborough United, Everton netted one goal in each half, with Ndiaye securing their progression to the next round via a penalty during the dying moments of the second half.
After a sluggish beginning, Everton began to assert themselves, with Orel Mangala coming close when his brilliant volley struck the crossbar, as reported by The FA.
Their League One opponents threatened to take the lead as Cian Hayes nearly scored, only for Jarrad Branthwaite to clear the ball off the line.
Just four minutes before the halftime whistle, Everton took the lead through Beto, who received a well-timed pass from 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong. Beto skillfully rounded goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic before slotting the ball in from a challenging angle.
Peterborough sought to find an equalizer in the second half, but it was Everton who nearly doubled their lead when Armando Broja broke free ten minutes from the end. He managed to outpace Bilokapic, who had ventured far from his goal, but Emmanuel Fernandez executed a crucial last-minute tackle, leading to Broja suffering a potentially serious injury from an awkward fall.
In the end, they did secure a second goal, with Jadel Katongo fouling Branthwaite in the penalty area, allowing Ndiaye to confidently convert the penalty.
Dyche, aged 53, exits the club following a stretch of five matches without a victory, leaving Everton positioned 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone. The team has managed to score only 15 league goals this season, with only the bottom club, Southampton, having fewer goals.
The club's statement read, "The process to appoint a new manager is underway, and an update will be provided in due course. Under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman will oversee first-team activities on an interim basis."
Additionally, the statement confirmed that coaches Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard, and Billy Mercer have also left the club.
Everton's upcoming Premier League fixture is at home against Aston Villa on January 15.
