Beto and Ndiaye lift Everton as caretakers sweep up after turmoil

Another new era for Everton, this one promising stability, and another managerial search is under way after the sacking of Sean Dyche.

- Andy Hunter

The Friedkin Group, the club's new owners, were at least spared the ignominy of seeing their new investment exit the FA Cup against League One opposition.

Beto, on paper the most expensive signing of the Dyche era, and Iliman Ndiaye, one of the few pluses, scored the goals that took Everton into the fourth round at the expense of Peterborough United. Darren Ferguson's side competed admirably without seriously threatening to add upset to Everton's latest sense of turmoil.

The scheduling of the tie was less headline-grabbing than the sacking that preceded it. Nevertheless it served as another demonstration of how little consideration is given to supporters by broadcasters and authorities, in this case the BBC and Football Association.

Everton's shareholders association registered their dismay at the Thursday night kick-off in a letter to the FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham. Peterborough's 2,976 supporters, it wrote, "now have to make decisions about the viability of taking time off work, and youngsters out of school, to do a 360-mile round trip based around a weeknight 7.45pm kick-off". Bullingham replied, in fairness, admitting the live fixture schedule had been "challenging" but increased prize money for all concerned. Everton having home games next Wednesday and Sunday was another factor, he wrote.