Everton made a perfect start to pre-season with a 4-0 victory over Scottish Premiership side Dundee at Dens Park. The hosts, playing their sixth friendly of the summer plus two Scottish League Cup games, were outclassed by the Blues, who capitalized on poor second-half goalkeeping and defending.
First-Half Dominance
Beto opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a deflected shot. The forward's strike took a healthy deflection to beat the Dundee keeper. Harrison Armstrong provided the through ball that set up the chance, one of few moments of real quality in the first half.
Tyler Dibling grew in confidence after a clever through ball to Beto created a good chance. He won a corner late in the first half by driving at two defenders and started the second half well, looking to take players on and shoot before being substituted.
Second-Half Goalscoring Spree
Thierno Barry, Beto's replacement, closed down the home keeper in the 69th minute and saw the ball fly into the net to double the advantage. Barry showed good perseverance to pressure the goalkeeper, who cleared the ball straight into him, looping over the line.
In the 82nd minute, young midfielder Harvey Foster got on the scoresheet, making the most of another goalkeeping mistake. Foster produced a really smart finish to punish the keeper's second error, a big moment for the popular midfielder.
Dwight McNeil tapped home the fourth a minute from time after good work from Malik Olayiwola and Carlos Alcaraz. McNeil played on both wings after coming on at the break and tested the keeper with an earlier effort on his left foot.
Player Ratings
Mark Travers 6: Rarely troubled, making just one save that was straight at him. Comfortable throughout.
Merlin Rohl 6: Competent out wide, pushed forward but refused the best opportunity to show off his pace. Everton still need a specialist right-back.
Michael Keane 6: Captain for the day and composed throughout, with little to deal with before being replaced by Will Tamen.
Jake O'Brien 8: Imperious in his preferred centre-back position. A good sign that David Moyes is open to looking at him in the middle. His only indiscretion was a pass that played Rohl into trouble. Substituted at half-time.
Adam Aznou 7: Worked hard down the left and supported Tyrique George well. Put in a good cross at the back post in the first half, giving Everton an attacking thrust they have missed down the left.
Tyler Dibling 8: Played within himself initially but grew in confidence after a clever through ball to Beto. Drove at defenders and took players on before being substituted.
Harrison Armstrong 7: Composed on the ball, wanted possession, and his through ball to Beto was one of few moments of real quality.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 6: Keen to build momentum and tried intelligent football through the middle, but link-up play did not quite click. Covered ground well and chased back to help defence. Replaced at the break.
Tim Iroegbunam 7: Busy in the middle and overloaded at times as Dewsbury-Hall and Armstrong pushed forward. Growing into a capable player.
Tyrique George 8: Positive performance from the newly permanently signed player. Linked up well with Aznou and caused problems by cutting inside onto his right before being replaced.
Beto 7: Got the goal that will hopefully breed confidence, but it came via a deflection. Delayed his shot too long after a clever ball from Armstrong and could have done better just before the goal when he switched onto his left rather than driving at goal after a pass from Dibling.
Substitutes
Tom King 7: Made a very good, sharp save low down to an Ash Hay effort from 12 yards.
James Tarkowski 7: Good at the back when he came on and steered a young back four through the last half hour.
Dwight McNeil 7: Played on both wings after the break and tested the keeper with an effort on his left foot. Added the fourth for a late flourish.
Thierno Barry 7: Showed good perseverance to close down the keeper and was rewarded when the clearance thundered into him and looped over the line.
Carlos Alcaraz 6: Had a great opportunity inside the box early in the second half but fluffed his effort. A willing runner and kept composure to help create the fourth.
Will Tamen 7: Made a brilliant block in the dying moments to deny Dundee a consolation. Last-ditch defending at its best.
George Finney 7: Eager to get forward after a good loan spell at Ayr. Put two good crosses into the box, the first a brilliant whipped ball that Braiden Graham was inches from poking in.
Braiden Graham 6: Lively when he came on and agonisingly close to a goal when he was inches from Finney's cross. The instinct that took him into such a dangerous area was a glimpse at his academy prolificacy.
Eli Campbell 6: Composed at left back, making his first-team debut against Sunderland in the FA Cup.
Malik Olayiwola 6: Fought well in the middle and showed good composure to help punish the keeper and create the fourth for McNeil.
Harvey Foster 7: Produced a really smart finish to punish the keeper's second mistake. A big moment for the popular midfielder.
