Everton 3-0 Doncaster: Dwight McNeil, Iliman Ndiaye and Beto score as Sean Dyche’s side get first win of the season

Everton were so excited by their first goal of the season against Doncaster there was a debate over who scored it, but the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Iliman Ndiaye’s clincher before Beto rounded off the scoring.

After two heavy Premier League defeats, you could sense the relief at Goodison when they broke the resistance of League Two Rovers in the second half.

After 53 minutes, young midfielder Tim Iroegbunam shot into the bottom corner from 18 yards but his delight at a first Everton goal was cut short when Dwight McNeil sheepishly raised his arm to take the credit.

Replays showed the ball had brushed the No7 on its way in and the Goodison stadium announcer changed his original verdict of Iroegbunam to the more senior player.

There was no doubting the identity of the second goalscorer. There is a lot of pressure on Senegal World Cup star Iliman Ndiaye to provide some Merseyside magic following his summer move from Marseille.

Beto (right) celebrates with team-mate Tim Iroegbunam after finding the net for Everton

Dwight McNeil claimed Everton’s first goal although there was uncertainty over who scored it

It was a much-needed first win of the season for Sean Dyche’s Everton after difficult results

The way he opened his Everton account with quick feet inside the penalty area before drilling home after 74 minutes was greeted enthusiastically by an impressive crowd of 37,00 who had braved an early-evening downpour.

Few clubs needed an morale-boosting EFL Cup win like Everton whose defeats of 3-0 and 4-0 against Brighton and Tottenham had led to some supporters behind verbally abusive to the players at the weekend.

Dyche was buoyed by James Garner and Seamus Coleman making their first appearances of the season after injuries, and he also gave first starts for transfer window recruits Ndiaye, Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrom.

It took time for the home side to get going and they needed their England No1 Jordan Pickford to save well from Jack Senior to avoid an early setback.

They raised their game just before the interval when Garner’s shot was deflected for a corner and from the following set-piece he drilled against the woodwork.

It helped home fans enjoy their half-time cuppa and the much-needed breakthrough arrived after 53 minutes when McNeil and Lindstrom combined down the right to set up Iroegbunam’s shot.

Beto, who had scored against Doncaster in the same competition on his Everton debut last season, missed from close range so Ndiaye took matters into his own hand, giving the Lawlor the eyes before placing a neat finish to his near post.

It proved the cue for a relaxed Everton to start displaying their Premier League quality. McNeil was denied an excellent hit by a fingertip stop by Lawlor and then Beto, who was deputising for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, was on the spot from four yards to give the final scoreline a positive gloss.

Jarad Branthwaite watched on from the stands amid uncertainty over his Everton future

Ukranian Vitaliy Mykolenko broke forward on the overlap and his pull-back to Beto allowed the big striker to finish emphatically and get a loud cheer from fans who appreciated his workrate throughout the game.

Central defender Jarrad Branthwaite watched on from the stands and Everton fans will hope the club don’t get a sizeable offer before Friday’s deadline.

Forward Neal Maupay wasn’t in the 18 after a social medial post criticising the fans who had barracked the players and the club are seeing if a deal can be done for him to leave this week.

Doncaster noisy travelling fans saw their side compete well before running out of steam and they’ll have the bigger prize of promotion to chase this season.

Everton famously haven’t won a major trophy since 1995. At this stage, the players will just be relieved they could return home without hearing any more catcalls. And Dyche won’t care who the record books have as the first goalscorer.