Everton manager Roberto Martinez has claimed that the introduction of Gerard Deulofeu was the key to his side's League Cup triumph over Barnsley.
The Toffees were twice forced to come from behind on the way to beating the League One side 5-3 in extra time, and Martinez was quick to pay tribute to Deulofeu, who signed for the club permanently this summer after enjoying a successful loan spell in the 2013-14 campaign.
"He was outstanding when he came on," he told the club's website. "His pace, penetration and ability in one-v-one situations was something that inspired our second-half performance.
"As you could see at the end, he was finding it tough. The plan was never that he would play anything longer than 45 minutes. But he adapted well and can only benefit from it.
"It was a really good display. But everyone in the second half, individually and collectively, was very strong. It would have been all too easy to let the momentum of the first half contaminate the second, but the attitude of the team was very clear – we wanted to get through. It was tough but we deserved it."
Everton will meet Reading in the third round.
Callum Mulvihill
