David Moyes praised two of his Everton players and spoke of how Blues fans will be relishing this cup run after his side reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup
Hayden Hackney of Everton celebrates with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Hayden Hackney of Everton celebrates with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
View Image
David Moyes hailed the displays of midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Hayden Hackney as he recognised the importance of Everton reaching the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 win over Newcastle United.
The Blues will now go to Arsenal’s conquerors, League Two Fleetwood Town, in the last eight as they bid to reach their first semi-final since Roberto Martinez’s final season in 2015/16. Moyes said: “The positivity we can build with the supporters. You could see what it meant for them, for us to get to quarter-final of the cup.
“You know, it’s a big moment for them. I don’t know when we last were in that situation (2023/24 under Sean Dyche).
“But obviously the players need to keep at it. We know we’ve said we’re not accepting any excuses from anything whether it was the ownership or transfer window.
Make sure you never miss the latest Everton news and opinion by makingLiverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.
“I don’t want the players to look for any excuses at all. So, I think they’re doing a great job, I really do.
“Tonight’s a tough game and there’s a humility is about us because obviously we’ve got to play Newcastle again on Monday. So, we have to go again and we know that will be a really tough game.”
Dewsbury-Hall played an important part in Everton’s second and third goals and Moyes believes the £25million signing from Chelsea in August 2025 is always a key man for the side. He said: “There’s signs that he’s really getting back to where he is. I actually thought the third goal was a great goal with the pass from Jimmy, the run from Kiernan and then obviously Thierno’s composed finish was very good as well.
“So, it was a good third goal for us. But Kiernan has been up and down a little bit, but in the main, he’s always above 50%, always doing well for us, and always a threat.
“His goals last year were hugely important to his, so we hope that he can continue to add a few more goals as well.”
Meanwhile, reigning Championship Player of the Season Hayden Hackney netted his first goal for Everton following his £16.5million transfer from Middlesbrough in July. Moyes said of 24-year-old: “I thought there were bits of his game that were very good. Getting a goal was great. “There were other bits I didn’t think was where it was, but I see this as a bit of bringing in Championship players and getting them used to the Premier League. A couple times you get caught in the ball.
“But I really enjoyed bits. He gave us a bit of an attacking play into the box, and obviously getting the goal was really good and there was a really good assist from Thierno Barry as well, to be fair.”
FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE!Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo’s dedicated FB page
Get YOUR Everton FC Newsletter