Everton secured a 3‑1 victory over Newcastle United at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday, advancing to the League Cup quarter‑finals where they will meet fourth‑tier side Fleetwood in the week commencing 14 December.
The Toffees took the lead in the 34th minute when James Garner headed home a cross from Hayden Hackney, who had earlier set up the chance. Hackney, on loan from Middlesbrough, doubled the lead just before halftime with his first goal for Everton since his January move. In the second half, Thierno Barry added a seventh league‑cup goal of the season in the 69th minute, latching onto a Kiernan Dewsbury‑Hall cross and finishing from close range. Newcastle’s consolation came from Dan Burn’s header in the 88th minute, but it was too little, too late.
The win snapped Everton’s three‑match winless streak in all competitions. The club also announced that Jack Grealish would miss the match after a “breach of club discipline,” reportedly an unauthorised absence from training. Among the spectators was British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a lifelong Everton supporter, who watched the Toffees progress from the stands.
Everton’s upcoming opponent, Fleetwood Town, are the “giant‑killers” who eliminated Premier League champions Arsenal earlier this week after a 1‑1 draw at Highbury was decided by a penalty shoot‑out. Everton have never lifted the League Cup, having lost their two final appearances in 1977 and 1984, and it has been 31 years since their last major trophy, the 1995 FA Cup.
Newcastle will seek revenge when the sides meet again in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Monday. Manager Matthias Jaissle made several changes at halftime, bringing on Joelinton, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa, the latter missing a clear chance shortly after coming on.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
