Everton 2-1 Lincoln City in FA Cup third round: Ademola Lookman with first goal in 13 months

Everton survived a scare against League Two leaders Lincoln City to win their first FA Cup tie since March 2016.

Ademola Lookman headed the Toffees into the lead before Brazilian winger Bernard made it 2-0 inside the opening 15 minutes at Goodison Park.

Lincoln, who famously reached the quarter-finals as a non-league club in 2017, pulled a goal back when Michael Bostwick pounced from close range.

Richarlison cleared from under his own crossbar as Lincoln pressed.

• Watch all FA Cup goals and highlights

Back to winning ways but questions remain for Everton

After one win in eight Premier League games, this was hardly a sweeping statement by Marco Silva's side.

Nevertheless Everton just about got the job done to secure a first home win since 24 November.

They made a lightning start, Lookman meeting a lovely cross by Leighton Baines to nod his first goal for the club since December 2017.

Two minutes later it was 2-0, a fine move involving Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin ending with Bernard lifting the ball over keeper Josh Vickers and into the net.

Lookman and Calvert-Lewin both went close to adding to the score as the hosts dictated play before Lincoln reduced the deficit from a set-piece.

Everton's defence failed to deal with a free-kick into the penalty area and although Pickford kept out Jason Shackell's initial attempt, Bostwick was able to scramble the ball over the line.

That lifted Lincoln and their 5,500 travelling supporters, yet for all their good build-up play, they struggled to create chances.

At the other end, Vickers did well to keep out Sigurdsson's stinging half-volley as Everton put the disappointments of going out in the third round in each of the previous two seasons behind them.

While Everton, who had James McCarthy back on the substitutes' bench after a year out with a broken leg, go into Monday's fourth-round draw, Lincoln are left to concentrate on their promotion push to the third tier.

Man of the match - Michael Bostwick (Lincoln City)

He might have been on the losing side but Michael Bostwick was immense at the heart of the Lincoln defence while reacting first to score his side's only goal

'It was a big party for them' - the managers

Everton manager Marco Silva: "We achieved the main thing and I am pleased we will play in the next round. The FA Cup is always a fantastic challenge for these type of teams who can play against the Premier League teams.

"We knew our objective was to go through and it is an important competition for this club and the supporters.

"When we went 2-0 up, we could have gone scored three or four, but it was big party for them and they had nothing to lose. They scored from the set-piece which gave them hope."

Lincoln City manager Danny Cowley: "We went toe to toe with a side of world-class players and a world-class manager.

"Credit to Everton because they were exceptional but the underlying memory of this game will be the determination my players showed.

"We are a team that enjoys learning and when you play against the big teams you get instant feedback. Everton really tested our defensive structure at times and we feel we will be better for this experience."

Everton avoid shock again - the stats

• Everton have progressed from all of their past 10 FA Cup ties against non-Premier League sides.

• Both of Michael Bostwick's FA Cup goals have come against Premier League opposition - for Stevenage against Newcastle in January 2011 and for Lincoln against Everton.

• The attendance of 37,900 was the best for a third-round tie at Goodison since 46,320 against Aston Villa in January 1978.