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The FA Cup - Third Round
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Everton 2-1 Rotherham: Abdoulaye Doucoure scores extra-time winner in FA Cup

By Luke ReddyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section FA Cupcomments254

Everton needed an extra-time winner from Abdoulaye Doucoure to finally see off Championship side Rotherham and reach round four of the FA Cup.

The Premier League side - featuring the likes of James Rodriguez and Lucas Digne - led through Cenk Tosun.

But Rotherham forced saves from Robin Olsen before Matthew Olosunde hooked in a deserved equaliser after the break.

A VAR call denied Tosun a second at the death but substitute Doucoure steered home a winner early in extra time.

It was tough on Rotherham, who would have earned a replay after it was level at the end of normal time were it not for the need for FA Cup ties to be resolved in one match this year - meaning no replays - as a result of Covid-19's impact on the football calendar.

Matthew Olosunde celebrates after hooking a low shot across goal to equalise for Rotherham
Matthew Olosunde hooked a low shot across goal to equalise for Rotherham

On another day, a passive Everton display over the 90 minutes might have been enough to edge through such a tie but Rotherham clearly fancied the chance to reach round four for the first time in 18 years and inject some joy into a tough season battling Championship relegation.

After Tosun's clever chipped finish - his first Everton goal since 2019 - Paul Warne's side rallied, with Olosunde and Daniel Barlaser seeing shots saved, while Matt Crooks glanced a header over.

When Olosunde did level after the break, Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti's decision to not name top-scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Brazilian forward Richarlison on the bench made the home side appear slightly vulnerable.

But he did introduce Bernard and Doucoure, who slotted into the bottom corner to keep Everton's hopes of landing a first major trophy since 1995 alive.

'Everton's tough day' - reaction

Cenk Tosun, Bernard and Abdoulaye Doucoure celebrate
Tosun (centre) scored his first Everton goal since 2019 but Doucoure came off the bench to net the winner

Everton assistant manager Duncan Ferguson: "It was a tough match so you are always fearing the worst when they got a corner in the last minute, so it was a wee bit of relief.

"We started well and Cenk took his goal well. It was a tough game for us and one we were delighted to get through."

Rotherham manager Paul Warne: "I thought we took the game to them after we conceded and I thought we were the better side in the first half.

"We could have got a 2-1 in and no-one would have complained about it."

Up next?

Everton travel to Wolves on Tuesday while Rotherham have a week until they go to Derby on 16 January.

Line-ups

Everton

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 33Olsen
  • 23Coleman
  • 22Godfrey
  • 5Keane
  • 12DigneSubstituted forMinaat 66'minutes
  • 26DaviesSubstituted forG Sigurdssonat 66'minutes
  • 21André Gomes
  • 17IwobiSubstituted forDoucouréat 61'minutes
  • 19RodríguezSubstituted forNkounkouat 95'minutes
  • 24GordonSubstituted forBernardat 61'minutes
  • 14Tosun

Substitutes

  • 4Holgate
  • 10G Sigurdsson
  • 13Mina
  • 16Doucouré
  • 18Nkounkou
  • 20Bernard
  • 32Branthwaite
  • 49Lössl
  • 50Simms

Rotherham

Formation 5-4-1

  • 27Blackman
  • 22OlosundeSubstituted forJonesat 90'minutes
  • 20Ihiekwe
  • 6Wood
  • 21MacDonald
  • 19HardingSubstituted forClarkeat 83'minutes
  • 16LindsaySubstituted forJozefzoonat 76'minutes
  • 26Barlaser
  • 25CrooksSubstituted forVassellat 67'minutes
  • 8Wiles
  • 24SmithSubstituted forHirstat 77'minutesBooked at 106mins

Substitutes

  • 1Johansson
  • 2Jones
  • 7Vassell
  • 9Hirst
  • 14Miller
  • 18Clarke
  • 23Tilt
  • 28Jozefzoon
  • 31Vickers
Referee:
Stuart Attwell

Match Stats

Home TeamEvertonAway TeamRotherham
Possession
Home66%
Away34%
Shots
Home16
Away16
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home4
Away6
Fouls
Home7
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Everton 2, Rotherham United 1.

  2. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time ends, Everton 2, Rotherham United 1.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton).

  4. Post update

    Daniel Barlaser (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  5. Post update

    Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Post update

    Foul by Florian Jozefzoon (Rotherham United).

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kyle Vassell (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by George Hirst.

  8. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Trevor Clarke (Rotherham United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Jozefzoon with a cross.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kyle Vassell (Rotherham United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Jozefzoon.

  10. Booking

    George Hirst (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  11. Post update

    Yerry Mina (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  12. Post update

    Foul by George Hirst (Rotherham United).

  13. Post update

    Second Half Extra Time begins Everton 2, Rotherham United 1.

  14. Post update

    First Half Extra Time ends, Everton 2, Rotherham United 1.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Séamus Coleman (Everton).

  16. Post update

    Trevor Clarke (Rotherham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Post update

    Niels Nkounkou (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham United).

  19. Post update

    Corner, Everton. Conceded by Richard Wood.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Séamus Coleman (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bernard.

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Comments

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254 comments

  • Comment posted by chewytoffee, at 14:56 9 Jan 2021

    Well played Rotherham.
    You played brilliantly and I personally thought the best team lost in the end.

    • Reply posted by baz21, at 15:09 9 Jan 2021

      baz21 replied:
      I agree, relieved Everton are through, but Rotherham were the better team, well played Rotherham.

  • Comment posted by D1685645093238, at 15:09 9 Jan 2021

    Glad we are through, but a clear demonstration of how 5 subs disadvantages the underdog and it is no coincidence that managers who ask for it have stronger, more expensive squads.

    Well played Rotherham!

    • Reply posted by anythingleftonthebbc, at 15:36 9 Jan 2021

      anythingleftonthebbc replied:
      But haven't Everton spent £275m net since 2016? 3rd only behind both Manchester clubs!

  • Comment posted by john t, at 14:58 9 Jan 2021

    Rotherham deserved something today & played well.
    As for us we are not as good as we think,Tom Davies wouldn't even get in Rotherhams team,we need at least 4 more quality players,not blaming Ancelotti it takes time he has been left with some donkeys.

  • Comment posted by Arthur Dent, at 14:57 9 Jan 2021

    Unlucky Rotherham. Well done.

  • Comment posted by baz21, at 15:10 9 Jan 2021

    Relieved Everton are through, but so unlucky Rotherham, played well, good luck for the rest of the season.

  • Comment posted by Ray, at 14:42 9 Jan 2021

    Well played Rotherham they were unlucky on the day and coming from an Everton supporter while the Everton defence don’t inspire you with confidence the Rotherham team played long periods on attack

    • Reply posted by CJ Robo, at 18:49 9 Jan 2021

      CJ Robo replied:
      Unfortunately thats our theme this season play some decent football spend a lot of time on attack and a defensive lapse costs us a win or a draw. But I think Paul Warnes doing the best with what he has.

  • Comment posted by donners, at 14:42 9 Jan 2021

    Well done Rotherham...poor from the toffees!

    • Reply posted by Ray, at 15:26 9 Jan 2021

      Ray replied:
      Not good enough Everton on recent performances after beating Leicester away they have not played as well since
      I wouldn’t fancy Everton against Millwall at the moment

  • Comment posted by McNulty, at 15:08 9 Jan 2021

    RS,vile comments are to be expected on every ManU,ManC,Chelsea,Spurs or Everton HYS.
    Rotheram were the better team for most of the first 90.
    They played really well.I am surprised they sit so low in the Championship.

    • Reply posted by aaaaaaaa, at 15:50 9 Jan 2021

      aaaaaaaa replied:
      They are obsessed, normal, genuine Liverpool fans are ok, but the keyboard troll brigade out there are just very weird- I think they look forward to commenting as there is nothing better to do in lockdown. 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • Comment posted by Gary, at 15:37 9 Jan 2021

    It was another 'lets just give 75% effort' performance and made it hard for ourselves. I dont go with the Tom Davies assault. He played a defensive role today. The problem was transition and attack. The goals were well worked but we should have created more and played quicker. As seems to be a regular feature, too few players playing to their ability. Credit to Rotherham, great effort.

    • Reply posted by Wombat_LCFC, at 21:30 9 Jan 2021

      Wombat_LCFC replied:
      well said Gary - Tom Davies seems to be the Everton bully's 'pick-on' guy. Perhaps its jealousy over the hair as 90% of EFC fans I know are little pudgy round the middle and all bald as an eagle.

      Ancelotti's no mug - if he keeps picking Davies, he knows he has the ability to do the job

  • Comment posted by brian1947, at 15:07 9 Jan 2021

    As an EFC supporter it was a total embarrassment to watch. How many times do we say the result matters and we will be better next time? Trouble is we are never better, never learn from mistakes. After 20 mins we were totally outplayed until half time. Can't image what Carlo said but we were just as bad 2nd half. Poor passing, poor movement yet we showed on two occasions we can do it and scored.

  • Comment posted by Pinseeker, at 15:29 9 Jan 2021

    We were dreadful again today. Gomes is awful, we play with 10 men with him in the side. Need money spent on at least 1 pacey attacking midfielder in January. Our movement off the ball is nonexistent going forward, surely this is a fundamental of any side?? We are so easy to defend against.

    • Reply posted by SL65AMG, at 17:48 9 Jan 2021

      SL65AMG replied:
      Gomez is holding us back. Doesn’t know how to pass forward. Too many rubbish players that need to be sold

  • Comment posted by D1679413793895, at 17:41 9 Jan 2021

    When Tom Davies came on scene I thought he would be good player,but now evereytime he receives the ball he slows the game down need three touches then turns backwards and at best passes side ways ,cannot see him making premier league standard ,now just plods around kicking people. sorry he done for me..

  • Comment posted by Quiverbow, at 15:10 9 Jan 2021

    I thought the rules of the competition were the same for every team in that competition. Using VAR at some grounds and not others means the rules ard not the same me for everyone.

    Shame on the F.A. for allowing this.

    • Reply posted by Phil Smith, at 15:24 9 Jan 2021

      Phil Smith replied:
      Well said VAR shouldn't be used.

  • Comment posted by paul123, at 15:02 9 Jan 2021

    A nervous game, Rotherham played well to be fair, so happy to be in the next round, and nice to see Digne playing and James

    I don't see the point of Davies, but that's my opinion

    Let's now wait for all the RS to invade this HYS with their vile comments

    You have been warned !!

  • Comment posted by Deltablue, at 15:12 9 Jan 2021

    Everton need to be doing a lot better. Some say it's the result that counts, but I think we should be using these games to build confidence, not just crawling over the line. Well done Rotherham, now play like this in your league games and you will have a very good season.

    • Reply posted by CJ Robo, at 18:54 9 Jan 2021

      CJ Robo replied:
      Unfortunately we do play like this and still don’t get the results.

  • Comment posted by roxy, at 14:47 9 Jan 2021

    Hard going due to a great performance from Rotherham but a win is a win.

  • Comment posted by chalkie, at 14:49 9 Jan 2021

    A win is a win. 90 mins, extra time or penalties, doesn’t matter. Move on to the next round 👍

  • Comment posted by D1679129306761, at 15:36 9 Jan 2021

    Rotheram. Well played against sticky Toffee s

  • Comment posted by Bolton of Yorkshire, at 14:49 9 Jan 2021

    Half a billion on display for Everton and Rotherham clearly the better team.
    EFC clearly have a world class manager but he’ll have to work miracles to get them challenging for anything. You can see they have a mid table club mentality.
    Well played Rotherham

    • Reply posted by parkylanestreet, at 14:55 9 Jan 2021

      parkylanestreet replied:
      Hey have a look at the Derby result the team FL left behind it's the cup anything can happen in cup ties until the 5th/6th rounds that is then the big boys put out their best team

  • Comment posted by wale , at 15:33 9 Jan 2021

    Nice,but what is the ludicrous decision behind some matches using VAR and others aren't..in the same round??

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