Friday’s briefing: Dyche leaves Everton and Potter prepares for first game

After sacking manager Sean Dyche just a few hours before kick-off, Everton beat Peterborough 2-0 to secure a place in the FA Cup fourth round.

Elsewhere in Thursday night’s action, Cardiff turned the tables on Sky Bet Championship rivals Sheffield United with a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane while Fulham coasted past Watford at Craven Cottage.

In Scotland, Rangers’ away day woes continued as they drew 1-1 at Dundee to sit 15 points behind William Hill Premiership leaders Celtic.

West Ham, meanwhile, had unveiled Graham Potter as the club’s new head coach on Thursday morning following the departure of Julen Lopetegui – and he will be in charge of his first game away to Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Friday night.

Caretaker managers Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman succeeded where Dyche had so often failed as Everton ground out a 2-0 win over Peterborough at Goodison Park.

Just three league wins all season had seen new American-based owners the Friedkin Group look for a change in direction – which came less than four hours ahead of the FA Cup tie against League One Posh.

Although under-18s head coach Baines and club captain Coleman took charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis, it was a side picked by Dyche before his departure which got the job done with minimum fuss after Beto’s strike just before half-time and a late penalty from Iliman Ndiaye.

TFG have already identified their next permanent boss – and it could be a familiar face who is soon back at Goodison Park.

The PA news agency understands Everton are hopeful of securing Dyche’s replacement possibly within the next few days, having sounded out Potter before he opted for West Ham.

Former Toffees boss David Moyes has now emerged as the favourite for a return to