Match Preview
After narrowly losing their place in League One last season, with Gillingham relegated on goal difference, Fleetwood will be hoping for a more consistent season under new manager Scott Brown.
After a productive year as Aberdeen's assistant, the former Celtic midfielder has stepped into his first managerial role in reasonable form to date, picking up six points from five games while beating the championship team Wigan Athletic for a compelling second-round draw against Everton. The Cod Army certainly look harder to beat than last season, when they scored 82 goals in 6 appearances. Indeed, two consecutive 0-0 draws before Tuesday's draw perhaps show where Brown's priorities lie, at least early in his tenure. Similarly, a cup race is not a priority for a club many expect to struggle again this season, but every time a Premier League team arrives in the city, It's always an opportunity that no manager or player wants to pass up. Without giving everything.
Of course, Everton only maintained their current position in the Premier League with one game left last season, after a tumultuous season under the tutelage of Rafael Benitez and Frank Lampard. The former England midfielder may have feared the worst after Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock for Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park in the 81st minute on Saturday, with the Toffees scoring in three league defeats to opening the season. Demarai Gray, however, ignored his manager's blush as there were only two minutes left to potentially start his team's season. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured once again, Lampard will certainly be determined to bring in a striker of a larger caliber than the current one. Unable to lift the title since 1995, Everton fans are likely to want their manager to pick a strong team at Fleetwood on Tuesday, but certainly with Premier League survival a priority in the battle. During this pandemic, the the-year-old has his main job to ensure his team avoids a harmful attack on Tuesday.
Team News
Fleetwood will be without center-back Darnell Johnson, who continues his rehabilitation following a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Brown picked up a pretty strong team in the last-round win over Wigan so it's unlikely to make too many changes from the weekend's fine draw against Derby County.
Joe Garner, Cian Hayes, and Carl Johnston are all hoping to step into attack after being used from the bench on Saturday, and Hayes is likely to win this one.
Everton, meanwhile, will travel without Calvert-Lewin (knee), Yerry Mina (ankle), and Abdoulaye Doucoure (muscle), with the trio likely at least another week to return. the first team again.
Ben Godfrey (fractured fibula) and Andros Townsend (ACL) have long been out of action, but Andre Gomes could be in the squad after his recent strike.
Lampard is sure to freshen things up more than his counterpart, with Seamus Coleman set to lead the team that lost his place to Nathan Patterson in the first weeks of the campaign. Allan could link up with Amadou Onana in midfield, with Michael Keane, Dwight McNeil, Dele Alli, and Ruben Vinagre all returning with vital fitness.
Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Earl, Nsiala, Andrew; Sarpong-Wiredu, Vela, Macadam, Batty; Hayes, Garner
Everton possible starting lineup:
Begovic; Holgate, Coady, Keane; Coleman, Allan, Onana, Vinagre; McNeil, Alli; Rondon
Key Facts
- Fleetwood has conceded (in reg.time) in 9 of the last 10 EFL Cup home games.
- Everton has scored (in reg.time) in 13 of the last 14 EFL Cup away games.
- Everton scored in both halves in 5 of the last 6 EFL Cup away games.
- Everton has scored over 1.5 goals (in reg.time) in 9 of the last 10 EFL Cup away games.
- Everton has conceded in 18 of the last 19 away games.
- There have been less than 4.5 offside positions in 14 of the last 16 Everton away games.
- Everton has had less than 4.5 shots on target in each of their last 12 away games.
- Everton has yellow cards less than 1.5 times in each of their last 9 EFL Cup away games.
- Fleetwood has scored less than 2.5 goals (in reg.time) in 9 of the last 10 EFL Cup home games.
- Everton has sent less than 6.5 corner kicks in 8 of the last 9 EFL Cup away games.
- Everton has scored less than 2.5 goals (in reg.time) in 7 of the last 9 EFL Cup away games.
- Everton has won the 2nd half in 7 of the last 8 EFL Cup away games.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored (in reg.time) in 6 of the last 7 Everton away games in the EFL Cup.
- Everton scored in the 1st half in each of their last 5 EFL Cup away games.
We say: Fleetwood Town 0-1 Everton
With both teams playing safety-first football in the opening weeks of the campaign, it is hard to see too many goals being scored at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday.
Despite being likely to make several changes, the Toffees should be able to keep their League One opponents at arm's length and marginally progress to the next round.