Everton manager Sean Dyche points out that graphic is 'wrong' ahead of Carabao Cup game

Everton manager Sean Dyche pointed out that a graphic of his starting XI was "wrong" ahead of their Carabao Cup clash against Doncaster on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old former Burnley boss, who hasn't enjoyed the best start to this season, with Everton losing their opening three Premier League games, was speaking to Sky Sports before kick-off.

He joined presenter Mark Chapman and pundits Darren Moore, Kevin Campbell and Izzy Christiansen on the Eco-Power Stadium touchline to chat about his team for the second round tie.

And shortly after a graphic of his predicted 4-4-2 formation popped up on screen, Chapman said: "When we put Grant's up, it was in the wrong formation. So hopefully we've got this in the right formation."

The discussion soon turned to new signing Beto, who joined the ranks at Goodison Park earlier this week in a £25 million deal from Serie A side Udinese. "I'd like to [give him 20, 25 minutes]," Dyche said.

"We only [just] got clearance of his visa, that's what we were waiting on. We'd set the team up, worked on it."

Moments later, the Everton manager decided to point out that the Sky Sports graphic was indeed wrong; a statement that left Chapman laughing on the touchline. "That's wrong by the way, but anyway," Dyche continued.

Everton would instead play a 4-1-3-2 formation against their League Two opponents, with Amadou Onana sitting behind Abdoulaye Doucoure on the left.

Former Manchester United midfielder James Garner played through the middle rather than on the right of a midfield four, while Lewis Dobbin stretched Doncaster's defensive line from the right.

Doncaster, who sit bottom of League Two after picking up just one point from a possible 15, took a surprise lead in the 44th minute, when Joe Ironside headed past Jordan Pickford.

Two summers signings, however, handed the Toffees a place in the third round. Beto scored on his Everton debut with 73 minutes played before Arnaut Danjuma sealed a narrow 2-1 victory with a late winner.

Dyche was full of praise for Beto in his post-match comments.

“He’s only got here yesterday, so it’s a lot to ask, really," he said. "We only got his clearance this morning, so we’d already set the team up. I had it in my mind to put him on at half-time regardless.

"He’s adapted very quickly, done very well tonight. With all due respect, the Premier League is different, but he’s shown the rawness, the pace and the effect that he can have on a team.

"It gives us something different, which is what we brought him here for.”

Don’t need to watch more than this clip. It’s clear Beto is the profile Everton need in the #9 from a physical standpoint.

No longer will Calvert-Lewin’s absence be so debilitating. pic.twitter.com/Z3ezmfI0N7

— EBL (@EBL2017) August 31, 2023