Linderoth goal finally gives Everton a cup tonic

Everton 1 Charlton 0

Defeats by the likes of Bristol Rovers and Crystal Palace come to mind, but Tobias Linderoth’s first goal for the club saw them into the last 16 of the Carling Cup this time around at the expense of Charlton. The goal came in the first half after Wayne Rooney’s drive had hit the bar, allowing the Swede to nod into an empty net.

Although Charlton saw Jason Euell miss a sitter in each half, Everton deserved this victory and could have had more had not another Rooney effort come back off a post.

Everton recalled outcast Alex Nyarko for his first match since April, 2001 Loan spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, plus a pre-season trip to China have ended with the player returning to Everton.

Now he finds himself in the shop window with the transfer market about to open again in two months.

Nyarko got plenty of support from the fans, and saw one angled drive skim wide of the far post as Everton made most of the first-half running.

Duncan Ferguson soared to see a header saved by Dean Kiely from Thomas Gravesen’s cross. Then Gravesen’s defensive header sent Wayne Rooney away, the youngster cutting in to try a cheeky chip which Kiely pulled down. Charlton recovered from a rocky start to produce two efforts from Jason Euell which were held by Nigel Martyn, and a 20 yarder from Jonatan Johansson that the Everton goalkeeper also had to watch carefully.

Former Everton man Graham Stuart then sliced his shot into the side netting after being put clear by Scott Parker.

Fine Everton approach work ended with Gary Naysmith in the clear on the left, but his fierce 15-yard shot was beaten away by Kiely, while only a despairing block from Martyn stopped Charlton taking a 40th-minute lead.

Radostin Kishishev’s long ball saw Euell go clear after some neat control, but from eight yards the striker saw his low drive turned away. But seconds later Everton were ahead. Rooney’s deflected drive had come back off the bar and Linderoth ducked low to nod the ball into an empty net.

Charlton should have been level on 53 minutes when Johansson got away down the right, but Euell managed to slide in and push the cross wide. Kiely then made an excellent save from Gravesen while Chris Perry headed out from under the bar to stop a Ferguson effort.

They almost managed it when Rooney hit a post and then drove the rebound wide, before lashing a 25 yarder inches wide.

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Weir, Naysmith, Linderoth, Nyarko (Stubbs 89), Gravesen (Li Tie 90), McFadden (Radzinski 75), Ferguson, Rooney.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Kishishev, Perry, Fish (Fortune 45), Hreidarsson, Stuart (Svensson 72), Holland (Campbell-Ryce 82), Parker, Jensen, Euell, Johansson.

Referee: A Wiley