Preston North End lost 4-0 against Everton on Wednesday night, bringing their Carabao Cup campaign to an end.
Preston North End's Leo Leroy battles with Everton's Harrison Armstrongplaceholder image
Preston North End's Leo Leroy battles with Everton's Harrison Armstrong | CameraSport - Dave Howarth
Everton scored the opener with 25 minutes gone through Thierno Barry, The French striker scored twice more in the second half before setting up Brennan Johnson for the Toffees’ fourth.
Iliman Ndiaye had an early effort on goal from outside the area on four minutes, but Jordan Storey knocked it behind for a corner, which was subsequently dealt with by North End’s defence. Tyler Dibling hit an effort from similar range only a couple of minutes later but it landed straight at Lee Nicholls’ chest and he made a simple save.
Storey then blocked another Ndiaye effort, this time closer to goal. PNE had to hold firm in the opening stages as an energetic Everton caused problems with balls in behind.
North End did threaten from counter attacks and on the 18th minute, following a powerful punch from Nicholls after a cross from the right, PNE broke with Jussef Erabi picking out Delano Burgzorg running down his flank. He had options as he bore down on goal but went at it alone and could only aim a tame effort right Pickford’s hands.
Everton took the lead on 25 minutes when Vitalii Mykolenko found space on the left to send in a cross for Barry. The French striker had the simple job of tapping it in from close range.
PNE’s best move of the half came when Jordan Thompson sent a peach of a ball down the left for Delano Burgzorg. An Everton man mistimed his interception, allowing Burgzorg to run into space before cutting across to Leo Leroy, who snatched at his effort fired over from 18 yards.
It was a busy start to the second half. Barry hit a low yet audacious effort from 25 yards within seconds of the restart but it tricklerd wide, before Burgzorg saw a shot from inside the box be charged down by an Everton man. Nicholls then saved well from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s near-post effort on 49 minutes.
The Toffees doubled their advantage on 59 minutes. Dewsbury-Hall cut inside and fired towards goal at the near post. Nicholls saved but it landed into the path of Barry who once again had the job of executing a simple finish.
Callum Lang came on with an hour played and his first notable contribution could have been spectacular. He forced a fine save from Jordan Pickford when he hit an overhead kick from inside the box.
It was soon three, as 70 minutes in, Pickford’s long throw split the defence open and allowed Everton to work a quick move down the centre, ending up with Barry finishing into an open net.
Their fourth came through Brennan Johnson just two minutes later. Barry turned provider to the Toffees’ new man with a side-footed pass, and Johnson finished calmly into the bottom corner.
Attendance: 16,834 (5,699 Everton). PNE starting XI: Nicholls, Valentin, Storey, Gibson, Vukcevic, Thompson, Leroy (McCann 60’, Gryba 85’), Moran, Small (Clarke 60’), Burgzorg (Devine 60’), Erabi (Lang 60’). Unused subs: Iversen, Lindsay, Hughes, Nolan