Everton were praised by stand-in manager Leighton Baines after recording a 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough just hours after Sean Dyche’s dismissal.
Former full-back Baines, who is in charge of Everton’s under-18s, and club captain Seamus Coleman were announced as interim managers just three hours before the third-round tie at Goodison Park.
Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye saw the Premier League side safe and Baines said: “I thought their application was brilliant.
“Nobody wants to lose managers and coaches, it usually means something hasn’t gone right, and it’s never down to one person, it’s down to a lot of people who are involved.
Two Everton step up under the great lights at Goodison Park. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/x1NySCxM7a
— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2025
“It’s not good for a manager to lose his job and it usually follows a difficult period, not just a difficult day, and it has been.
“But I think there’s definitely hope and optimism within all of that now. That’s something we’ve talked about. Things are changing, football clubs, ownership, stadiums.
“The manager had to go and nobody wants that. But there will be a new manager and that will bring opportunity.
Baines, who stressed he was not looking to put himself forward for the permanent job and did not know if he would still be in the interim role next Wednesday, also spoke about Armando Broja when he arrived late on a forward stretcher. .
He said: “It looked bad. We don’t know the extent of it, other than that lower leg injury, but he hasn’t been taken to the hospital, so I take that as a good sign.
Ashley Young came on for Everton in the 73rd minute, but the introduction of his son Tyler Young from the Peterborough bench did not materialise.
And Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “If the game was 2-0 at the time I would have kept it on, but it’s 1-0, I’ve got to go on.
“We’re not a charity case, as much as I wanted Tyler to move forward with his dad.
“One of their (Everton’s) players had a bit of a pop on me, which is out of order. I have to do what’s best for our team and at that time, 1-0, I’m trying to get a result.