Evertonlegend Peter Reid said at Bill Kenwright’s memorial service on Monday that the greatest tribute to the former chairman would be to end their trophy drought this year. ‘No pressure, Dychey,’ he said, laughing. Sadly, that wait for glory goes on.
Sean Dyche has worked minor miracles in his 11 months on Merseyside and gave Everton fans hope that they could not just beat Fulham last night, but go on to win the whole competition. Yet despite a valiant effort, dreams of a trip to Wembley were perhaps one step too far.
Their first defeat of December came after a penalty shoot-out and, to rub further salt into the wounds, it was a previous occupier of the Everton hotseat who became the scrooge of Goodison, as Marco Silva’s Fulham ended his old club’s quest for silverware.