Everton U21s are beaten at Lincoln City and go out of the Papa John's EFL Trophy

13/12/2022 20comments  |  Jump to last
Lincoln City 4 - 2 Everton U21s

Everton Under-21s were beaten by Lincoln City in the Round of 16 with the young Blues failing to reach the quarter-finals of the Papa John's EFL Trophy.

After going behind in the first half, Everton turned the game around on the back of Okoronkwo replacing Owen Barker at half-time and soon getting on the scoresheet thanks to an assist from Cannon.

And 2 minutes later, Everton went ahead through a great goal created by Okoronkwo with an excellent pass from inside the centre circle to the advancing Cannon who hit it first time into the roof of the net from the edge of the Imps area – a quite excellent goal! 

But the joy was short-lived when the home side were awarded a dubious penalty that was converted, setting up a challenging contest for the rest of the second half.

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But the next goal was crucial, however, and it went to Lincoln City after their goalkeeper was allowed to clear a long way downfield and the crossed ball was turned in by an untracked Imp at the far post.

Everton were denied an obvious penalty and had some good shots saved before Leban went up to help the threat from a late corner, then a free-kick, and was stranded upfield when the ball was cleared and Lincoln City scored an easy fourth goal with the final kick of the game.

Everton U21s: Leban, John [Y:67'] (82' Higgins), Welch, Anderson, Hunt, Quirk [Y:34'], Price (66' Butterfield), Kouyate (66' I Samuels-Smith), Barker (46' Okoronkwo), Mills, Cannon.
Subs not Used: Barrett, Campbell, Djankpata.

 

Reader Comments (20)

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Phill Thompson
2 Posted 13/12/2022 at 18:25:35
Likely a 4-2-3-1 line-up with Quirk & Price as the 2, Barker, Mills, Kouyate with Cannon up front.
John Keating
3 Posted 13/12/2022 at 18:37:53
Big step up for the youngsters tonight compared to Mansfield.
They've done very well getting this far.

Fingers crossed for another good performance with a better start and not a late escape like last time out!

Dave Abrahams
4 Posted 13/12/2022 at 19:03:11
I hope I can get to watch this game. I'm having no luck up to now. I keep being asked to give my details. I thought I had sorted everything with Google, got my code number...
Dave Abrahams
5 Posted 13/12/2022 at 19:07:07
Carrying on with my post @4 ... got my Google code number ready but they are asking for it. I'm just going round in circles. I might have to watch the World Cup semi-final!!
Phill Thompson
6 Posted 13/12/2022 at 19:19:09
Dave,

I'm okay on my iPad but on the TV, I used to go around in circles like you. I found by going through the U21 section and finding the stream that way as opposed to the one showing on the home page.

I feel your pain!

Danny Baily
7 Posted 13/12/2022 at 19:40:17
The Imps deservedly in the lead by the look of it.
Bill Gall
8 Posted 13/12/2022 at 20:07:19
Good move for the equalizer, from the keeper, 2/3 passes to the scorer.
Bill Gall
9 Posted 13/12/2022 at 20:20:29
It's 2-2 at the moment.
Bill Gall
10 Posted 13/12/2022 at 20:34:11
Lincoln just scored now, winning 3-2.
Dave Abrahams
11 Posted 13/12/2022 at 20:49:57
Everton scoring through Okoronkwo and a brilliant goal.
Bill Gall
12 Posted 13/12/2022 at 20:51:08
Shame another poor refereeing decision. Looked like a penalty to Everton but that is something none of the Everton teams get – and that is the right decision.
Bill Gall
13 Posted 13/12/2022 at 21:01:20
Unfortunate loss for the young Everton players. They played well, but not good enough.

The score ended up 4-2 but Lincoln's last goal was from a free-kick into their area where every Everton player including the goalkeeper was and they broke away

Dave Abrahams
14 Posted 13/12/2022 at 21:02:58
It finished 4-2 for Lincoln with the last kick of the game after Cannon scored a brilliant goal to put Everton in the lead but then missed a very good chance later.

Phill Thompson
15 Posted 13/12/2022 at 21:08:05
Well at least they went out fighting, pretty evenly matched game, a couple of defensive errors and a poor penalty against us 🤷‍♂️
Tony Abrahams
16 Posted 13/12/2022 at 21:23:08
It's a shame they're out, simply because I believe every single one of these games is probably worth five games in Premier League 2, with regards to their development.

Maybe Cannon and a couple of others will be sent on loan after Christmas? We will see.

Phill Thompson
17 Posted 13/12/2022 at 22:32:01
Tony #16,

The co-commentator tonight was James Vaughan who's now our Loans Pathway Manager, or similar title.

He spoke about his role a bit, which is not only to keep an eye on those on loan, but also to watch our youngsters, understand their strengths, weaknesses and development needs. He also develops contacts at clubs who may be suitable to take them on loan.

It suggests that, although loans can be a bit hit and miss, we now do much more research before sending a youngster out on loan.

Dupont Koo
18 Posted 14/12/2022 at 01:22:09
Quick recap on the goals:

Heavy Touch by Owen Barker that led to the turnover in our own half, then MacKenzie Hunt's poor positioning got him over-committing and caught in the middle of nowhere. The Imps' full-back was given a clear path and all the time in the world to shoot, despite Joe Anderson tried his best to rush back from Crosby to the City Centre (I like his outburst of frustrations after losing the goal though, which showed commitment)... 1-0 Lincoln

Stanley Mills picking up the ball in Midfield and immediately played a through ball for Tom Cannon to break the Imps' high line. A nice cross on the ground for Okoronkwo to finish off a nice counter-attack. 1-1

Okoronkwo as a provider this time: he sent another through ball in the centre of the pitch for Tom Cannon to storm from the right and score. 2-1 Everton U21

A long throw from the right, got flicked on like what we see every week in a Sunday League game. The ball was not cleared after a scramble and led to a lucky penalty that was scored with cool. 2-2

Route 1 ball cleared by the Imps goalie. Joe Anderson lost the subsequent header at the top of the penalty area and the ball fell to the Imps' right-winger for a cross to his equivalent on the left, who swept home without any blue shirts within the radius of a mile. 3-2 Lincoln

After going all out to attack an added time free kick, the Imps cleared but Liam Higgins could not win a header back to the penalty area. Imps then pushed for a 2-on-1 for 40 yards and scored on an empty net. 4-2 Lincoln

+++++++++++++++++++

In short, like Tony @16 said, the experience of playing against a Football League team is worth at least 5 non-competitive U21 games (an away game in a freezing night adds another 3 to that number, IMHO), so this was a precious opportunity for the lads.

I'm also glad to see that the mistakes made at the game can all be rectified and improved with experiences and further lessons on how to play with more physicality against real pros.

This game reinforces the fact that Price and Cannon need to be loaned out ASAP for minutes against real pros at Football League level. They have nothing further to prove at U21 level, and it's time for James Vaughan to earn his paycheque to find them the proper clubs.

We have to sign Price for a contract extension first before loaning him out though, as his contract is expiring in 6 months.

Robert Tressell
19 Posted 14/12/2022 at 07:47:01
I have mixed feelings about Price and Cannon, Dupont.

I see a lot of promise with Price but I haven't seen him dominate a U21s game even as much as Warrington or Onyango (although haven't seen many this season at all). I do have a sneaking suspicion he'd be better with better players around him though.

Since he already has a good engine and work-rate, might he be better heading abroad to learn a more technical game?

As for Cannon, he's proved me wrong already this season by showing this form. Perhaps he needs a good goal haul to get his confidence right up before a loan.

The flip side is that I think Okoronkwo and Kouyate need to step up now, so maybe Cannon leaving on loan is the right thing for them.

Whatever the case, Vaughan knows the lower leagues well and should be in a good position to judge.

Tony Abrahams
20 Posted 14/12/2022 at 09:32:17
Could Price do what Onana has been doing since he got here?

You can see the talent but, because he has been mostly playing on the periphery of the game, it does sometimes feel like we are playing with a man down.

Robert Tressell
21 Posted 16/12/2022 at 19:23:45
Tony, Price is absolutely miles off where Onana is.

Onana has been very patchy but Lampard has set up the team, especially the midfield, in a really weird way (miles apart and no cohesion).

If you put Price in the same position, he'll struggle.


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