Everton 2-0 Dagenham & Redbridge

Everton eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a routine victory over Dagenham and Redbridge.

The two sides are separated by 79 places in the football pyramid, but League Two Daggers put in a solid defensive display to frustrate their Premier League opponents.

Striker Arouna Kone headed the hosts ahead in the first half.

And Kevin Mirallas made it 2-0 from the penalty spot late on, after he was tripped by defender Nyron Nosworthy.

The Toffees have now progressed from seven of their past eight FA Cup third-round games - their only blip coming last season when they went out on penalties against West Ham.

For the Daggers, it was a first defeat for manager John Still in his third spell in charge which began on New Year's Eve.

One-way traffic

Everton made eight changes from the side that beat Manchester City on Monday, but boss Roberto Martinez did include some recognisable faces.

Captain Phil Jagielka returned from injury, as did full-back Bryan Oviedo, while midfielder Steven Pienaar got a hero's welcome from the Goodison Park crowd on his first appearances since April 2015.

Dagenham have conceded 45 goals in 25 League Two games this season but their back five created a wall of yellow and black to stop Everton running riot, even though they dominated with 75% of the possession.

Daggers goalkeeper Mark Cousins produced some decent saves in the first half - most notably from Ramiro Funes Mori's dipping strike - but he was unable to stop Kone's opener, which he headed in with ease from Oviedo's free-kick.

The Ivory Coast striker could have grabbed at least one more goal in the second half, but his low strike was saved by Cousins and he failed to convert from Mo Besic's ball in.

Dagenham, meanwhile, failed to register a shot on target.

Look what the cat dragged in...

Mirallas' penalty put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute, but a bizarre delay followed after a black and white cat appeared on the pitch.

The feline skulked about the Everton penalty area, and was spooked onto the sidelines as goalkeeper Joel Robles went to usher it off.

It was eventually collared by security, but not before impressing Everton boss Roberto Martinez.

Asked if it was a good omen, Martinez replied: "Hopefully. I thought he had great style and movement."

What the managers said

Everton boss Roberto Martinez: "It was very satisfying. There's no such thing as an easy tie and you know these games are testing - you have to concentrate. Dagenham showed that - they kept their shape well and it's easy to get exposed.

"I was pleased with the attacking threat but you have to give them credit for the way they defended. I was impressed with the physical levels of Dagenham."

Dagenham and Redbridge boss John Still: "I've not been back too long but the work we've been doing has helped us compete.

"The game plan was good and everyone has worked well. It's a good day to be a manager of this club.

"We've had a disappointing first half of the season but everyone has worked so hard, including the former manager Wayne Burnett, who's my mate. This performance was for him."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Everton

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Robles
8OviedoBooked at 34mins
6Jagielka
25Funes MoriSubstituted forPenningtonat 45+4'minutes
32GallowayBooked at 90mins
4Gibson
17Besic
12LennonSubstituted forRodríguezat 89'minutes
11Mirallas
22PienaarSubstituted forOsmanat 77'minutes
9Koné

Substitutes

19Deulofeu
20Barkley
21Osman
24Howard
28Rodríguez
35McAleny
38Pennington

Dag & Red

Formation 3-5-2

30Cousins
5Nosworthy
6Dikamona
24Worrall
2Passley
18Raymond
4Labadie
21Muldoon
23HemmingsBooked at 31minsSubstituted forConnorsat 75'minutes
10ChambersSubstituted forJonesat 62'minutes
12DoidgeSubstituted forCuretonat 66'minutes

Substitutes

1O'Brien
3Connors
7Cureton
9McClure
17Jones
25Ferdinand
33Widdowson

Referee:: Paul Tierney
Attendance:: 30,918

Match Stats

Home TeamEvertonAway TeamDag & Red

Possession: Home74%; Away26%

Shots: Home20; Away3

Shots on Target: Home8; Away0

Corners: Home11; Away1

Fouls: Home12; Away10

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Everton 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Everton 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 0.

90'+1'
Post update
Oliver Muldoon (Dagenham and Redbridge) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Leandro Rodríguez (Everton).
90'+1'
Booking
Brendan Galloway (Everton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Brendan Galloway (Everton).
90'+1'
Post update
Joss Labadie (Dagenham and Redbridge) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Leandro Rodríguez replaces Aaron Lennon.
89'
Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Mark Cousins.
89'
Post update
Attempt saved. Leon Osman (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
85'
Goal!
Goal! Everton 2, Dagenham and Redbridge 0. Kevin Mirallas (Everton) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
85'
Post update
Penalty Everton. Kevin Mirallas draws a foul in the penalty area.
85'
Post update
Penalty conceded by Nyron Nosworthy (Dagenham and Redbridge) after a foul in the penalty area.
83'
Post update
Foul by Darron Gibson (Everton).
83'
Post update
Jodi Jones (Dagenham and Redbridge) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'
Post update
Jack Connors (Dagenham and Redbridge) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'
Post update
Foul by Aaron Lennon (Everton).
79'
Post update
Attempt missed. Arouna Koné (Everton) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left following a corner.
79'
Post update
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Oliver Muldoon.
77'
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Leon Osman replaces Steven Pienaar.

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