Everton safely through to round five after win over Carlisle

Aaron Lennon called the tune as Everton spoiled Carlisle United’s day at Brunton Park.

Lennon laid the opening goal on a plate for Arouna Kone, before adding the second. And Ross Barkley wrapped up the scoring midway through the second half.

The fact the Emirates FA Cup fourth round tie was able to be staged at all in Cumbria was miraculous with the ground having been submerged in 14 feet of water just weeks ago.

Three ‘home’ matches had to be staged away from Brunton Park during a massive clean-up operation and, glad to be back where they belong, Carlisle took on Premier League Everton in front of a hopeful sell-out crowd of more than 17,000.

But inside two minutes Everton spoilt the party. Former Tottenham winger Lennon latched onto Seamus Coleman’s long ball in behind the Carlisle defence and rolled a low cross along the six-yard box to leave Kone with a sample tap-in from two yards.

Carlisle had no intention of simply sitting back and licking their wounds though, and Joel Robles had to be sharp to push away Derek Asamoah’s half volley from a tight angle.

But the visitors had a second goal on 14 minutes when Lennon received Barkley’s left-wing pass at the near post. His first touch took him away from defender Michael Raynes and his second was a neat finish under keeper Mark Gillespie.

Carlisle abandoned their game plan at the break, making a double substitution and a change to their system.

But the chances still fell Everton’s way, with Tom Cleverley firing wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end Asamoah chased down a pass forwards from substitute Hallam Hope, but his shot from the edge of the box was deflected over the top by defender Phil Jagielka.

Michael Raynes made a desperate block to prevent Coleman’s effort hitting the target after he was played in by the tie’s outstanding player Lennon.

Everton’s progress was effectively sealed with 25 minutes remaining when Barkley’s powerful strike from 20 yards deflected off Mark Ellis and sailed beyond the wrong-footed Gillespie.

It was a goal his all-round, all-action performance deserved and, when replaced with 15 minutes to go, he received a generous applause from the home faithful, glad to be able to watch football in familiar surroundings once more.

With two minutes remaining Jagielka denied them a consolation goal to cheer, blocking substitute Jabo Ibhere’s effort following a purposeful run in the right flank from Alex Gilliead.

Carlisle United (3-4-2-1): Mark Gillespie, David Atkinson, Mark Ellis, Michael Raynes, Tom Miller, Brandon Comley, Jason Kennedy, Gary Dicker, Antony Sweeney, Macaulay Gillesphey, Derek Asamoah.

Substitutes: Alex Gilliead for Dicker 46, Hallam Hope for Gillesphey 46, Jabo Ibehre for Comley 62.

Substitutes not used: Dan Hanford, Charlie Wyke, Joe Thompson, Alex McQueen.

Everton (4-3-3): Joel Robles, Seamus Coleman, Phil Jagielka, Ramiro Funes, Mori, Bryan Oviedo, James McCarthy, Tom Cleverley, Ross Barkley, Aaron Lennon, Steven Pienaar, Arouna Kone.

Substitutes: Leon Osman for Pienaar 60, Darron Gibson for Barkley 75, Brendan Galloway for Coleman 83.

Substitutes not used: Tim Howard, John Stones, Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu.

Goals: Kone 2, Lennon 14, Barkley 65.

Attendance: 17,101

Referee: Lee Mason