David Moyes may have new reason to think carefully about Everton deadline day transfer plans

David Moyes may have new reason to think carefully about Everton deadline day transfer plans

Everton match verdict via Joe Thomas after the Carabao Cup second round tie against Mansfield Town at the Hill Dickinson Stadium

Beto interact with teammate Harrison Armstrong during the Carabao Cup Second Round match between Everton and Mansfield Town at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 27, 2025 i (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

On a week in which headlines were dominated by the arrival of Tyler Dibling it was another teenager who grabbed centre stage as Everton overcame Mansfield Town.

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Harrison Armstrong was in danger of becoming the forgotten man of the Blues’ summer as David Moyes’ squad rebuild threatened to halt his march towards the first team. But in a game in which some of his more illustrious teammates flattered to deceive it was the 18-year-old whose intelligence and composure proved crucial to ending the League One side’s stubborn stand.

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There should be little surprise the England youth international had the quality to stand out against the visitors - he impressed at a higher level while on loan with Derby County last year. With squad positions still up for grabs and Moyes still seeking depth in the middle, the academy product produced a compelling argument to remain part of his plans beyond next week.

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Everton player ratings as Harrison Armstrong and one other excellent in win over Mansfield READ MORE:

Armstrong ended this match with two assists, holding his nerve while under pressure to tee up Carlos Alcaraz, Everton’s other outstanding performer, and then lay the second goal on a plate for Beto in the final minutes.

His standout moment, however, was a gorgeous through ball that sent substitute Iliman Ndiaye into the box when just one goal separated the teams. That was the crowning moment of a composed display in which he once again looked at home in grand surroundings.

Whether he will get the opportunity to stay at Hill Dickinson Stadium beyond the end of the transfer window remains to be seen, with a long list of Football League clubs likely to be delighted should a chance to sign him on loan emerge.

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But after the start of his campaign was disrupted by a minor injury he did enough on Wednesday night to show he can be an asset in a squad that will remain short on depth even if Moyes gets the final additions he hopes for over the coming days.

This match was threatening to become an awkward test for Everton before Armstrong played a pass into the path of Alcaraz some 20 yards out. His cute finish was a reward for a positive start to the second half in which he was crucial to setting the tone, dropping deep to start attacks and maintaining the desire to try and effect the game that enabled him to stand out in the first half.

Once the deadlock was broken this game became a formality and attention could turn to the first appearance of Dibling, Everton’s eighth signing of the summer. The 19-year-old was undaunted by the occasion and his first half an hour in Royal Blue justified the ripple of excitement his emergence from the bench sent around the crowd.

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David Moyes had written in his programme notes that Mansfield deserved respect after a good start to their campaign, adding: “We have no divine right to progress.”

Scarred by cup upsets of the past, he named a strong starting line-up and his message appeared clear: start well and prevent this match from becoming tougher than it needed to be.

His players heeded that message and began on the front foot, pinning Mansfield back and dominating the ball. Alcaraz was lively and linked up well with Thierno Barry and Jack Grealish. The attacking midfielder took in a pass from the Manchester City loanee before riding a challenge and testing Liam Roberts from 20 yards.

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The opposition keeper was then forced to tip over from Dwight McNeil after he was almost caught off his line from a free-kick he had shaped to cross.

Everton worked through the gears and it felt a breakthrough was coming just after the half hour. First, Grealish picked out McNeil in space, 12 yards out and on his favoured left foot. He fluffed the chance as a stadium waited for the net to bulge.

The next attack came down the Everton right and saw Garner pull the ball back to Grealish, 16 yards out. He may have been on his weaker foot but should have done better than slice high over the bar. Armstrong then shot straight at Roberts from an angle but, rather than build on the gathering momentum, Everton lost it in the final minutes of the half.

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Mansfield, having survived the Everton dominance for so long, grew in confidence and ended the half on top. The away side took control of the ball and knocked it around with increasing confidence. While they did not create a clear-cut chance, Everton needed a back post header from Vitalii Mykolenko, whose return to fitness after a groin issue restored balance to the home team set-up, to prevent a tap-in for Nathan Moriah-Welsh and enough doubt crept into the home performance to inspire stern words from Moyes.

Those words had the desired effect and Everton - unlike several Premier League rivals - avoided the potential for an upset to continue their winning start to life on the Liverpool waterfront.

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