Everton 3-0 Salford City: Keane, Sigurdsson and Kean score in Carabao Cup
- Published
Michael Keane scored his first goal since getting the winner at Norwich in the Premier League on 24 June
Everton hit the woodwork five times on their way to defeating a spirited Salford City to set up a Carabao Cup third-round visit to League One Fleetwood Town.
Michael Keane's first-half header, Gylfi Sigurdsson's first-time finish and a late Moise Kean penalty secured victory for Carlo Ancelotti's much-changed side.
Italy forward Kean (twice), Sigurdsson and Anthony Gordon (twice) had efforts that struck the bar or post in the second half as Everton had 32 shots throughout the 90 minutes, the most attempts they've had in a game since February 2016.
Having seen his side open their Premier League campaign with a deserved win at Tottenham on Sunday, Ancelotti made 10 changes for the visit of League Two Salford.
And it was Keane, the only survivor from the side that started in north London, who broke the deadlock after meeting Sigurdsson's corner, before the Iceland midfielder doubled the lead.
However, it was a far from straightforward victory for the big-spending Premier League club.
Everton, who have invested about £60m to bring in Brazil midfielder Allan, attacking midfielder James Rodriguez and French midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure since the end of last season, lost 18-year-old defender Jarrad Branthwaite to injury in the first half.
Jarrad Branthwaite was replaced by former Barcelona defender Lucas Digne
With Mason Holgate potentially out until the end of October with a toe injury, Ancelotti admitted after the game he may have to strengthen his options in defence before the transfer window closes next month.
"Holgate is out and Jarrad we don't know his injury and how bad it is, we have to look tomorrow," said the Italian.
"There is a possibility to find a centre-back and I think we have to."
Portuguese keeper Joao Virginia, 20, marked his senior debut for the Toffees with a clean sheet, while 19-year-old full-back Niels Nkounkou, signed in the summer from Marseille, also got an outing.
Despite the result Salford, who are only in their second season in the English Football League, were not overawed by the occasion and came close to scoring themselves.
At 1-0, Richie Towell should have equalised but shot over from about 12 yards.
The Toffees wrapped up the tie when Gordon teed up Sigurdsson before Gordon was fouled, Kean slotting home the penalty.
'Team spirit was key' - what they said
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti: "The performance was good, the spirit was the most important part of this game, a good attitude, a good sprit and all the team showed this."