It was almost inevitable that the two current worst teams in the Premier League would require a penalty shootout to settle their Carabao Cup third round tie. In the end, after 90 forgettable minutes, Southampton earned a somewhat morale-boosting sudden-death victory over Everton.
Everton and Southampton have each failed to trouble the points column in their opening four league games and the lack of confidence was telling at Goodison Park. Abdoulaye Doucouré and Taylor Harwood-Bellis traded first-half headers but everything was decided from 12 yards, as Ashley Young saw the 12th spot-kick saved by Alex McCarthy.
Nothing whets the appetite for a game of knockout football quite like 18 changes between the two lineups from their latest weekend defeats.
Sean Dyche gave 17-year-old Harrison Armstrong a full debut, while goalkeeper João Virgínia made his seventh Everton appearance after more than six years with the club. There were a further two goalkeepers on the bench, alongside four youngsters without a first-team minute between.
In a match consisting of makeshift teams, Everton looked the more confident going forward in the early stages. Roman Dixon caused problems from right-back and each set piece was difficult for Southampton to defend. It was Alex McCarthy who was first called into action, smartly saving from Beto at his near post after a powerful shot from the striker.
Understandably there was a lack of rhythm from both sides after the overhaul in personnel from the weekend. The nature of the fixture brought a tame atmosphere, although considering the home supporters think they need to go three goals ahead to be in with a chance of even drawing, their muted nature was inevitable.
In the end it was a corner that raised the noise levels when Jake O’Brien just about kept a Jesper Lindstrøm inswinger in play after McCarthy failed to deal with it, allowing Michael Keane to nod towards goal where Doucouré was awaiting to help it on its way beyond the goalkeeper.
Lindstrøm did not cover himself in glory soon after when Doucouré played him through on goal. The winger sprinted through and was joined by Beto, with the option of shooting himself or passing to the striker for an easy finish, Lindstrøm sent a tame shot straight at McCarthy, much to the frustration of everyone in blue.
Southampton were level soon after. Dixon needlessly took down Ryan Fraser on the right, gifting the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position. Charlie Taylor whipped it to the back post and Harwood-Bellis had the worryingly easy task of heading home. Set pieces were the name of the game, with limited quality on show.
The experienced Adam Lallana was withdrawn at half-time, causing Southampton to lose composure as the former England international had helped his team have more than three-quarters of possession before the break. There was greater eagerness to use width and put pressure on Dixon on a booking and left-back Dwight McNeil, a winger by trade.
Everton threatened to retake the lead when Lindstrøm was offered the chance to make amends for his earlier failure, but the result was the same. Beto managed to instinctively flick the ball through him to chase, only to hit the onrushing McCarthy.
after newsletter promotion
The inability to take a chance was almost punished once more. Everton failed to clear their lines, causing some pinball in the box, allowing Fraser to shoot from a tight angle but Virgínia was carefully guarding his front post. Space was opening up in the Everton defence and Southampton were finding ways to exploit it.
It seemed pre-planned as Southampton made a triple change on the hour mark, with Everton one fewer, in the hope of bringing some added quality to an increasingly scrappy evening on Merseyside. Dyche took off lone striker Beto, replacing him with Ashley Young and moving Iliman Ndiaye into a central role, causing sections of the Everton fans to boo the manager for the negativity.
The countdown to the penalty shootout started long before the final whistle. Every backwards pass from an Everton player was met with a groan and the Southampton supporters who had made the 480-mile round journey were plotting which podcast they would fall asleep to on the coach home.
Virginia spent the seconds in the buildup to the shootout wondering where to hide his bottle containing his revision, so no one could steal his secrets. The homework from both goalkeepers was looking futile as the first 10 were scored without a glove being laid on the ball.
In the end it took Young to smash one straight at McCarthy in sudden death to end the match with a metaphorical shrug.