Everton welcomed Southampton to Goodison Park on Tuesday night in a Carabao Cup clash between the two sides who have started the new Premier League season the worst, with both Sean Dyche and Russell Martin yet to guide their respective teams to picking up a single point.
It was a game which would buoy the winner somewhat and help build some confidence to take into their league fixtures.
It was a game Everton fans would have been wanting, and likely expecting to win.
However, as Southampton keeper Alex McCarthy saved Ashley Young's poorly placed penalty, boos rang out around the Goodison and pressure heaped onto the shoulders of manager Sean Dyche.
The former Burnley boss spoke in a press conference after the game, and addressed the boos that he and his team had received.
Everton manager, Sean Dyche, said:
“Some of the play was good at times, effective, we opened them enough times to go and win the game, but we didn’t take chances and you go down on penalties.”
“The fans have a right to say whatever they want to say, I’ve never questioned the fans here and I’m certainly not going to. They have been amazing since I’ve been here.”
A defiant and solidifying message from Dyche in the post-match may go some way to pacifying the Everton support, but there will be many calling for Dyche's head if results don't pick up soon.
Everton have been desperately unlucky in recent weeks, losing their last two Premier League games by back-to-back 3-2 scorelines, having led 2-0 in both instances.
It's a cruel run of results for The Toffees who in truth have performed better than the raw numbers suggest.
Nonetheless, it's a results game and Everton fans will be very concerned by their current status at the bottom of the table. Relegation into the Championship as they prepare to move to their brand new stadium would not be ideal to say the least.
Captain Abdoulaye Doucoure's close range header gave the hosts a first-half lead but Southampton centre back Taylor Harwood-Bellis equalised with a header of his own.
With Southampton up 6-5 on penalties, Ashley Young struck his penalty straight at Alex McCarthy who comfortably saved to send Southampton into the next round of the Carabao Cup.
Fans of both of these teams will expect them to kick off their Premier League seasons this weekend as they both face newly promoted opposition with Southampton hosting Ipswich Town and Everton travelling to Leicester City.
Another loss for Everton and Sean Dyche's position as manager will become very precarious indeed despite supposed assurances from the higher-ups at the club that his job is not currently in danger.
