Everton Bounce Back with Carabao Cup Win as Iliman Ndiaye Shines on Full Debut

New signing Iliman Ndiaye made a decisive impact on his full debut for Everton, scoring a crucial goal as the Toffees overcame Doncaster Rovers 3-0 to advance to the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Ndiaye, who joined Everton for £15 million from Marseille this summer, had appeared as a substitute in recent Premier League defeats to Brighton and Tottenham. However, he demonstrated his quality in his first start, netting Everton’s second goal in the 74th minute. The Senegal international collected the ball from 35 yards out, maneuvered past defender Joseph Olowu, and finished with composure.

Manager Sean Dyche made six changes to his starting lineup, including full debuts for Jesper Lindstrom and Jake O’Brien. Despite the rotated squad, Everton initially struggled to break down their League Two opponents. The breakthrough came in the 53rd minute when Dwight McNeil claimed a goal for himself, saying that Tim Iroegbunam’s shot from distance had deflected off his shin before finding the net.

Ndiaye had earlier been instrumental in creating Everton’s best first-half chance, setting up James Garner whose shot was blocked, and delivering a superb second-half cross that striker Beto failed to convert. However, Beto did find the net in the 84th minute, sealing a 3-0 victory that provided a much-needed boost for Everton.

Doncaster Rovers had their moments, with Jack Senior coming closest to scoring for the visitors in the first half, but his effort was well-saved by Everton’s Jordan Pickford.

Dyche, whose team is currently at the bottom of the Premier League with no goals and seven conceded from their opening two matches, described the win as a "mini step forward." He emphasized the importance of all players stepping up, not just the new signings. "We want all of the group to lay down markers," Dyche said. "It's not just about new players, it's about every player. Can they keep evolving for the next challenge? That’s what we’ve had to do many times. Challenges come, we have to go again and go again and go again, and there’s another challenge at the moment."

The win over Doncaster marks a positive development for Everton as they look to turn their season around.