League Two side Doncaster Rovers will take on Everton in the EFL Cup second-round tie, as Sean Dyche will aim for a win.
For a struggling side like Doncaster Rovers, the Everton clash at home will be seen as a momentous event. It is an opportunity for their manager, Grant McCann, and his players to show the Sky Sports cameras they have the quality.
However, McCann’s future at the club has come under serious doubt after a terrible start to the season. After taking only a point from five games, Doncaster Rovers are rock bottom in League Two and one of the favourites to bow out of the EFL structure altogether.
Their latest defeat came against MK Dons, and McCann will seriously need to improve results immediately or lose his post. There is still some silver lining on the horizon as the club can take their EFL Cup form, a competition where they have already beaten Championship side Hull City in the first round. Whether that motivates the player to perform well against Everton remains the question.
Like McCann, Sean Dyche will be eager to improve results following a terrible start to the Premier League season. Three defeats in as many games have seen the Toffees occupy the bottom spot on the table, which has rendered them favourites to go down this season.
Ready to make his first senior start for #EFC! 👏@LewisDobbin 🔵 pic.twitter.com/gPJ3Ol2rc4
— Everton (@Everton) August 26, 2023
The mood at Goodison Park has been numb since the season opener and will remain so unless there is a frenzy of transfer activity to strengthen the squad. While winning a cup competition for the first time will have a positive effect, Everton’s current objective is to survive the ordeal of Premier League relegation.
Dyche, however, knows the importance of posting their first win of the campaign, albeit in the EFL Cup against a League Two side, will have a positive effect, too. A victory in this fixture could elevate the players and boost their confidence in some tough weeks ahead in the top flight.
Team News & Tactics
Doncaster Rovers
Grant McCann could revert his lineup to the one that beat Hull City away from home in this competition. The changes will ensure the home side set up in a standard 4-4-2 shape to deal with the pressure anticipated from Everton’s attackers.
WATCH | Grant McCann met with the media to look ahead to tomorrow's clash with Everton in the Carabao Cup
🔴 #drfc ⚪https://t.co/hdYrkDJi3D
— Doncaster Rovers FC (@drfc_official) August 29, 2023
Ian Lawler will keep his spot between the sticks, with a mildly changed backline in front. At right-back, Owen Bailey will start, while Joseph Olowu and Tom Anderson will form the central defensive partnership. James Maxwell will finish the backline at left-back, as McCann will hope this shape will sustain the pressure.
George Broadbent and Harrison Biggins will provide the extra support to the backline from central midfield, while Deji Sotona and Tyler Roberts will provide width from the wings. McCann will prefer the striker partnership of Luke Molyneux and George Miller, with the latter scoring the brace to down Hull City in the last round.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Lawler; Bailey, Olowu, Anderson, Maxwell; Sotona, Broadbent, Biggins, Roberts; Molyneux, Miller
Everton
The Doncaster Rovers clash could come at the right time for Dyche to test some of his new signings and a few fringe players. Michael Keane could get the nod at the back as he could return to the lineup after sitting on the bench at the weekend.
— Everton (@Everton) August 29, 2023
Similarly, new signing Beto could make his competitive debut after only arriving on Tuesday. The former Udinese striker might not start, but play a role off the bench. However, fellow new arrival Youssef Chermiti might start this one after being on the bench on Saturday.
Ben Godfrey and Jarrad Branthwaite could also get the nod to feature at the back, with Vitaliy Mykolenko finishing the backline with his place at left-back. In midfield, Dyche could use the double pivot of James Garner and Amadou Onana.
Lewis Dobbin could start this game on the left side of the attack, while Neal Maupay could support central striker Chermiti from a secondary role. Arnaut Danjuma will likely complete the frontline for Everton, as Dyche will hope for the team’s first goals of the season.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Virginia, Godfrey, Keane, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Onana; Danjuma, Maupay, Dobbin; Chermiti
Key Stats
- Doncaster Rovers have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.
- Doncaster’s only victory in that period has come against Hull City in the EFL Cup first round.
- Everton have lost each of their three opening games of the season.
- Everton are the only top-flight team not to have scored a goal this season.
- Everton last won a cup competition in 1995.
Player to Watch
Youssef Chermiti
Youssef Chermiti via Instagram. 📱💙 pic.twitter.com/JItjVkr6Zl
— Everton Extra (@Everton_Extra) August 26, 2023
The 19-year-old former Sporting CP striker has yet to get the taste of English football fully but may have soaked up the atmosphere from the bench on Saturday. While this clash against lower-league opposition should not deter his debut, Chermiti will aim to make a lasting impression.
With Everton thoroughly struggling for relevance in the attack and the constant injury troubles of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, it is up to players like Chermiti and Beto to show Dyche they can prove to be able options. Everton desperately need goals for now, as they are the only top-flight side not to have scored so far.
Prediction
Doncaster Rovers 0-2 Everton
The Toffees have been suspected of losing to lower-league opposition previously, and in the form they are, their supporters will come into this game fearing for the worst. However, Doncaster Rovers are enduring a terrible run of form and will suffer again at the hands of Everton.
Dyche will urge his players to take the handbrake off and play their style of football. The manager will want to see plenty of goals. But Everton may not score more than two, considering this is an altogether newly assembled frontline for this game, and the players may have had far less time to gel together.
