Standings manager Leighton Baines hailed Everton's 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough just hours after Sean Dyche was sent off.
Baines, a former defender in charge of Everton's under-18s, and club captain Seamus Coleman were announced as caretaker managers three hours before kick-off in the third leg at Goodison Park.
Goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye saw the Premier League side safely through, and Baines said: “I thought their application was very good.
“Losing managers and coaches is not something anyone wants. This usually means that something is wrong, and it never comes down to the individual. It affects a lot of people involved.
Two Everton greats step up at Goodison Park. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/x1NySCxM7a
– Everton (@Everton) January 9 2025
“It's not good for a manager to miss his job, and it usually follows a difficult period, not just a difficult day.
“But I think there's definitely hope and optimism in all of it. That's what we've said. football team ownership Stadiums are changing.
“The manager had to leave and that's not what anyone wanted. But a new manager will come in and that will bring opportunities.”
Baines, who stressed that he was not considering putting himself forward for the permanent job and did not know if he would continue in the interim role next Wednesday, also spoke about Armando Broja after being stretchered off late. .
He said, “It doesn't look good. We don't know the extent of the injury, other than a lower leg injury, but he hasn't been taken to hospital, so that's taken as a good sign.”
Ashley Young came on for Everton in the 73rd minute, but the introduction of son Tyler Young from the Peterborough bench failed to materialise.
Posh boss Darren Ferguson said: “If it was 2-0 I would have brought him on. But it's 1-0. I have to move forward.
“As much as we want Tyler to interact with his father, it's not a charity case.
“One of their (Everton's) players was a little bit off on me and there was no explosion. We have to do the best for our team and try to get a 1-0 result at that time.”