Everton ease past Newcastle to book League Cup quarter-final tie with Fleetwood

Everton reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, ending a three-match winless run and setting up a tie away to fourth-tier Fleetwood.

James Garner put David Moyes’ side ahead in the 34th minute before Hayden Hackney doubled their advantage just before half-time. Thierno Barry added a third after the break, while Dan Burn’s late header was not enough to prevent Newcastle’s elimination.

Everton, who are aiming to reach their first League Cup final in 43 years, will travel to Fleetwood in the week commencing December 14.

Fleetwood, known as the ‘Cod Army’, produced one of the competition’s biggest shocks on Tuesday by beating Premier League champions Arsenal in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw at Highbury.

Everton have never won the League Cup, having lost both of their previous finals in 1977 and 1984. Their most recent major trophy remains the FA Cup, which they won 31 years ago.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a prominent Everton fan, watched from the stands as Moyes’ team progressed comfortably from their last-16 tie.

The clubs will meet again in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Monday, giving Newcastle an immediate opportunity to respond.

Everton had announced before kick-off that Jack Grealish was unavailable for selection “due to a breach of club discipline”. The on-loan Manchester City winger had reportedly missed training without authorisation after facing criticism over his behaviour off the pitch.

His absence did not affect Everton, who recovered after Newcastle made the brighter start. Jordan Pickford saved Joe Willock’s low shot before also keeping out a long-range effort from Fabian Schar.

Garner settled any early nerves when he met Hackney’s pass just inside the penalty area, stretching to steer a composed finish into the far corner.

Everton grew in confidence and struck again on the stroke of half-time. Barry delivered a cross into the six-yard box at the end of a rapid counter-attack, and Hackney arrived at the right moment to volley past Lukas Hornicek for his first goal since January.

Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle responded by introducing Joelinton, Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa at half-time.

Wissa almost made an immediate impact, racing on to Willock’s pass, but he misjudged the bounce and headed directly at Pickford.

The miss proved costly when Everton made it 3-0 in the 69th minute. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall supplied the cross and Barry finished from close range for his seventh goal of the season.

Burn headed in Willock’s cross in the 88th minute, with the goal followed by a confrontation involving several players. Newcastle could not build on that moment, however, and Everton moved into the last eight.