As the seconds ebbed away in Doncaster, Sean Dyche waved his arms in an exasperated manner, pleading for his side to hang on with all their might. At the full-time whistle some Everton players slumped to the floor, presumably in relief more than anything else. It shouldn’t really have been like this against the Football League’s bottom side: but that is the reality of Everton’s situation.
For 70 minutes they weren’t just behind and staring at an upset that would have represented the nadir of their recent history, let alone their season. They had been absolutely outplayed by a Doncaster team who themselves were without a win but deservedly led thanks to Joe Ironside’s header on the stroke of half-time.
