David Unsworth hailed the “great character” of his inexperienced Everton Under-23 side after they overcome the blow of conceding a 74th-minute equaliser to beat Portsmouth 2-1.
Unsworth was missing a plethora of his regular performers – either due to international duty or being out on loan – for the Premier League Cup match on the south coast.
But the boss was thrilled with the accomplished manner in which a clutch of Under-18s, including excellent defender Con Ouzounidis and England youth international Alex Denny, stepped into the breach.
Everton scored the game's first goal on 72 minutes, when Nathan Broadhead met Luke Garbutt’s delivery with a firm header which defeated Pompey goalkeeper Alex Bass.