LIVERPOOL — Goals
from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye sent Everton into the fourth round of the FA Cup on
the day club's manager Sean Dyche was sacked.
News that Dyche had been relieved of his duties came a
matter of hours before the game kicked off, with Leighton Baines and Seamus
Coleman taking charge of proceedings for the Toffees.
Facing League One Peterborough United, Everton scored a goal
in each half, Ndiaye sealing the place in the next round from the spot deep
into second-half stoppage time.
After an understandably slow start, Everton started to find
their feet, with Orel Mangala denied by the woodwork as his stunning volley
kissed the top of the bar and went over, The FA reports.
Their League One visitors responded and Cian Hayes almost
put them into a surprise lead, with Jarrad Branthwaite clearing his effort off
the line.
And four minutes from halftime, Everton hit the front
through Beto. He was played in beautifully by 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong.
Beto then rounded keeper Nicholas Bilokapic before sliding the ball home from a
tight angle.
Peterborough searched for a way back in the second half, but
it was Everton who almost made it two when Armando Broja raced away 10 minutes
from time. He got past Bilokapic, who had sprinted miles outside his box, but
Emmanuel Fernandez made the crucial late tackle, with the Albanian forward
suffering a seemingly serious injury after an awkward landing.
They did get the second goal in the end, though, with Jadel
Katongo hauling down Branthwaite in the box, and Ndiaye calmly slotting home
the penalty.
Dyche, 53, departs the club after a run of five winless
matches that has left them in 16th place in the Premier League table, just one
point above the relegation zone. Everton have scored only 15 league goals this
season; only the bottom club, Southampton, have scored fewer.
"The process to appoint a new manager is under way, and
an update will be provided in due course. Under-18s head coach Leighton Baines
and club captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of first-team affairs on an
interim basis," the club statement read.
The statement also confirms that coaches Ian Woan, Steve
Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer have left the club.
