Preston 0-3 Everton: Toffees secure first pre-season win in style at Deepdale

A comfortable outing for Everton saw them take down Preston North End in a 3-0 pre-season friendly victory at Deepdale this afternoon.

Goals from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and new signings Jake O’Brien and Jesper Lindstrøm saw the Toffees’ secure their first pre-season win of the summer.

Boyhood Liverpool fan and Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe would have been hoping for a more inspired performance, with his side returning to Deepdale in less than a week’s time for the start of their Championship campaign against Sheffield United.

Everton face Roma at Goodison Park in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday 10th August. Their Premier League season kicks off with a home clash against Brighton and Hove Albion later this month.

As it happened

The match was welcomed in by a well-observed minute’s silence in honour of the awfully tragic events taking place in Southport, a coastal town situated close to both Preston and Liverpool.

The fans also paid came together to remember the lives of both former Everton manager Craig Shakespeare and former long-serving Everton physio Les Helm.

It was an even start to the match, with both sides just trying to settle on the ball and get into a rhythm early on.

A brilliant Toffees move in the 18th minute saw Dwight McNeil put Dominic Calvert-Lewin through on goal. Lining up a shot, the 27-year-old was recklessly brought down in the box by PNE defender Liam Lindsay.

A penalty was awarded by referee Anthony Backhouse, and the fouled striker was sure to fire home past Dai Cornell to put Sean Dyche’s side a goal to the good.

Preston came close to a response ten minutes later through a Ryan Ledson back-post header, but a wonderful outstretched save from Joao Virginia kept the visitors’ lead intact.

Two chances came in quick succession for Everton just before the break, the first falling to Napoli-loanee Jesper Lindstrøm who saw his effort saved by Cornell. Goalscorer Calvert-Lewin had a second bite of the cherry, but his shot fell agonisingly wide of the post.

Sean Dyche would no doubt have been the happier of the two managers at the sound of the half-time whistle, with an uninspired Preston performance leaving Ryan Lowe with plenty to think about in the dressing room.

A number of substitutions were made ahead of the second 45, including a debut for Everton centre-back Jake O’Brien, who recently joined the club from Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais.

It was a brighter start to the second half for the home side as they searched for an equaliser. Forward Emil Riis being introduced to the mix looked to bring a new lease of life to Preston’s attacking play.

Their momentum and hopes of a potential comeback were cut short on the hour mark by a well-worked debut goal for Everton man O’Brien.

The centre-back flicked a long ball into the path of Calvert-Lewin, and his clever touch set up the new recruit who smashed the ball past Cornell in front of the travelling Blues fans.

Everton’s afternoon only got better as the match went on, with yet another debut goal for the supporters to cheer about. This time it was Jesper Lindstrøm’s turn to make his mark, with the Napoli loanee curling a beautiful free-kick into the top corner.

What had been an entertaining affair began to fizzle out towards the final whistle, with a lack of any real opportunities for either side in the closing stages.

The lineups

PNE: Cornell; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes, Potts; Whiteman, Ledson; Brady, Greenwood, Frøkjær; Keane

EVE: Virginia; Young, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gana, Iroegbunam; Harrison, Lindstrøm, McNeil; Calvert-Lewin