Gray steers Everton past Fleetwood after tough battle by the sea

In the Carabao Cup Everton certainly enjoy being beside the sea: twice in two years in this competition they have departed the Lancashire coast with victory over Fleetwood Town.

This win was far harder than the 5-2 rout of 2020 when Carlo Ancelotti was in charge, as the 14th-ranked League One team went close to proving the banana skin in waiting they appeared.

But Everton’s class, as it should, prevailed and Frank Lampard can be grateful for a first win of the campaign following an insipid start in the Premier League that has yielded a solitary point from the nine available. “They made it tough for us,” said the manager. “I was pleased with the attitude – though we could’ve been more intense at times.”

After a blast of Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder’s Together in Electric Dreams from the PA, the opening half began with Jakub Stolarczyk suffering a scare when Salomón Rondón went close to charging the No 1’s clearance down.

Scott Brown, once of Celtic and Scotland, was taking charge of only a seventh game in management, his Town record at kick-off reading two wins, three draws and a defeat. He saw his men, configured in a 4-2-3-1, threaten when the Liverpudlian Ged Garner shot on Asmir Begovic’s goal was blocked before Carl Johnston unloaded and the Toffees keeper saved.

Lampard’s XI was strong as it featured Nathan Patterson, Alex Iwobi, Michael Keane and Seamus Coleman with the £60m-rated Chelsea target, Anthony Gordon, a replacement. He denied the latter decision was to protect the club asset. “No, he had a small heel injury and didn’t train yesterday but was fit to play if needed. The situation hasn’t changed. We are aware of Chelsea’s interest but Anthony is an Everton player,” the manager said.

Lampard was asked