Everton vs Peterborough United: FA Cup third round preview
Yesterday at 05:59 PM
Toffees look to avoid upset against League One side
Sean Dyche looks set to remain in the dugout for Thursday's FA Cup tie against Peterborough despite days of rumour and speculation about his future.
Reports suggested new owners the Freidkin Group were reviewing Dyche's position after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth, with the Toffees slipping to within one point of the relegation zone.
An alarming run of just one win in 11 games, just three wins in total all season and only 15 games scored in 19 league games has cranked up the pressure. That intensified as Wolves and Ipswich picked up form below them.
But despite the rumours Dyche was present for his news conference as usual on Tuesday. He was perhaps a bit more circumspect than usual, talking of the pride he has for managing the club revealing TFG had told him in a meeting that results weren't good enough. Does that mean he has had a final warning? Or are the wheels in motion to appoint a replacement? Who knows. But with home games against Aston Villa and Tottenham to come next week this already feels like a decisive stage of the season.
First up though is the task of avoiding a cup upset, which would add an extra layer of embarrassment to what is already a miserable season.
A cup run may be down the priority list this year given the vital need to avoid relegation. But they can also breed confidence that seeps into league performances, as well as keeping the supporters dreaming of trips to Wembley and a long-awaited trophy, no matter how fantastical that may seem.
The opposition
There will be a little bit of history made on Thursday as Peterborough head to Goodison Park for the first and final time.
Only once have the two sides met and that was at Peterborough's London Road in 2006, with the Toffees winning a League Cup tie 2-1.
The Posh have spent the majority of their history in the bottom two divisions, punctuated by brief spells in the second tier. They have never played in the top flight, with their highest ever finish being 10th in the old Division One in 1992-93.
They are managed by Darren Ferguson – son of sir Alex – in what is his fourth spell in charge.
They head to Goodison Park having lost four and drawn one of their previous five games to sit 19th in League One, five points outside the relegation zone.
Nearly 3,000 Peterborough fans will make the long journey north through snowy and icy conditions for the game, which has been awkwardly - and pretty unfairly - scheduled for a Thursday night instead of a more traditional weekend slot.
Previous meeting
Peterborough 1-2 Everton, 19 September 2006
Everton came out on top in the only previous competitive meeting between the sides in a League Cup second round tie in September 2006. James Beattie's header deflected off Jude Sterling for an own goal to put the Toffees in front. Trevor Benjamin levelled for the home side after the break, before Tim Cahill's scrambled finish won it late on.
Team news
Everton will definitely be without Youssef Chermiti and Dwight McNeil, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin is a doubt with an ankle knock.
Armando Broja's injury suffered at Bournemouth is not as serious as first thought but he remains doubtful, leaving Beto as the only fit striker.
James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam are still sidelined, though Garner could resume training next week.
If selected then Ashley Young could come up against his 18-year-old son, Tyler.
What they said
Everton boss Sean Dyche: "There's a huge demand on me, a huge demand on the situation and it's a constant, and that is a part of Everton life. I've adapted to it, I've taken it on, I've had my knocks, and I'm getting them again now, and I've been through them before, you know that.
"It's how you handle it and try to always support the club. The club is always bigger than me, I've said that as soon as I got here. I see it that I am just a custodian. So far, I've handled it pretty bloody well, I think.
"So now can I go and win some games, can I take it on another level, can I change the narrative, can I reinvent what we're trying to do to try and take it on another level. That's the biggest challenge at the moment."
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson: "It is an opportunity for my young players to go there and express themselves, play the way that we want our teams to play and concentration will be vital. Sometimes in these ties, as players, you can think you are comfortable and then suddenly the tie is over. We have to remain concentrated for the entire game. The support from the fans has been first class all season and to take what we are taking there on a Thursday night is incredible."
Final word
A tricky cup tie against fired up lower league opposition is probably not what Everton need right now, especially given their struggles at breaking down packed defences. However, it also represents an opportunity to boost some flagging confidence going into another crucial set of league fixtures.
