Everton suffered another blow in their troubled start to the season as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by fellow Premier League strugglers Southampton following a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park.
Sean Dyche’s Toffees went into the third-round tie looking for another boost from the cup, with two more defeats since their 3-0 round two win over Doncaster leaving them with no points from their opening four league games of the campaign and bottom of the table.
They went in front via Abdoulaye Doucoure’s 20th-minute header, but Southampton – also yet to get off the mark this season in the top flight – levelled through Taylor Harwood-Bellis just past the half-hour mark.
With Everton’s Jesper Lindstrom having twice been unable to convert good opportunities, seeing shots saved by Alex McCarthy either side of the equaliser, the tie required spot-kicks for a winner.