Everton too strong for Rotherham in Carabao Cup
- Published
Calvert-Lewin capped his first start of the season with a goal
Everton continued their unbeaten start to the season with a victory over Rotherham that secures their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Despite making eight changes from Saturday's Premier League draw at Bournemouth, the Toffees had too much for their Championship opponents.
Gylfi Sigurdsson opened the scoring with a neat close-range finish.
Two goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, either side of Will Vaulks' header for Rotherham, saw the home side through.
The win extends Everton's League Cup record of having progressed from the second round in every season since 2001-02, when they were beaten on penalties by Crystal Palace.
Added to the two draws and a win from their first three Premier League games, it makes for a very encouraging start to the reign of boss Marco Silva.
Silva will have been pleased with the display of some of his second string, a number of whom pressed their case for inclusion for Saturday's home league encounter with Huddersfield.
Sandro Ramirez provided a neat low cross for Sigurdsson to score the opener, while Lucas Digne, at left-back, and fellow full debutant Kurt Zouma, at centre-back, were assured.
Calvert-Lewin was the standout, though, rising high in the box to head in Digne's pinpoint cross and then curling in a superb second from 20 yards just moments after Vaulks had given Rotherham hope with his headed goal.
It was a timely reminder of the young forward's goalscoring ability with current leading scorer Richarlison suspended at the weekend following his red card at the Vitality Stadium.
Everton boss Marco Silva: "It was important for us to get the result. That was our goal before the match, of course. But the first words I must give to the fans. It was fantastic support from them tonight.
"It's a Wednesday evening, our first League Cup match and more than 31,000 came to support us. That is fantastic for us.
"They showed me and our players that they are behind us and supporting us, that they believe in our squad.
"For me, that is just as important as the result for us tonight."
Rotherham boss Paul Warne: "I don't look at my players as first-team players or reserves, they are much of a muchness.
"I don't regard making all those changes as weakening the team. It isn't like I've been offensive to the cup, I've got another big game Saturday.
"I was intending to throw the kitchen sink at them in the last 20 minutes and, at 2-1, it looked like I was a fantastic tactician."