Sorry but this HAS to go down as a missed opportunity

WHY HEARTS SANK WHEN THE TEAM NEWS DROPPED AT MOLINEUX BEFORE BLUES SUFFERED ANOTHER EARLY EXIT

- By CHRIS BEESLEY

F a club of Everton's size and stature isn’t at least trying to win trophies, just what is their raison d'etre?

It's a point that has been made by this correspondent on several times before.

But I will have to keep on making it if loyal but long-suffering Blues supporters are served up more 'Groundhog Day' nightmares like the Carabao Cup capitulation at Molineux.

Everton Football Club enjoy a proud and unique history within the game. The only founder members of both the Football League in 1888 - before any of the so-called 'Big Six' were involved -- and Premier League in 1992 to be ever-presents in the latter, they've been competing, almost continuously at the elite end of the professional sport since the beginning.

They have won major honours across nine separate decades and that longevity of success can only be bettered by Liverpool and Manchester United.

Yet, as we all know in this city - and the neighbours like to point this out more than anybody as showcased as always in last Saturday's Merseyside Derby at Anfield the Blues haven't won a trophy since 1995. It’s the longest such drought in their existence.

There are legions of supporters out there who are old enough to play over-35s 'veterans' football but are still too young to remember Everton winning anything and are still waiting to make memories of their own.

For many of them, their hair will have already turned grey, some of them will have lost it, perhaps worrying about the Blues with the many sleepless nights they've caused their devoted fanbase in recent season will have contributed to both?