THE Carling Cup has so often been laced with pitfalls for David Moyes’ side but when it was required the most, the competition offered the Everton manager some welcome respite.

Not that he or the players found themselves under any form of acute pressure ahead of kick-off but with the stench of negativity still lingering around Goodison Park in the wake of recent events, a victory in this manner helped clear the air.

Last night’s ultimately routine win over Sheffield United was as much an exercise in healing the supporters’ bruised belief in their side, as it was to progress into the weekend’s third round draw.

Other than a run to the semi-finals in the 2007/08 campaign, the Carling Cup has been “difficult” according to the Everton manager during his tenure but events were straightforward enough last night.

Well, mostly.

Fittingly perhaps, the Goodison Park side had to fall once more before picking themselves off the ground and allowing logic to prevail as their superior quality dragged them out of a brief moment of despair when Richard Cresswell put the visitors ahead.

Everton’s dominance had been near enough total in the lead up to the shock opener so without panic, they soon re-established order and restored parity before cruising ahead before half-time and securing their passage into the next round thereafter.

The evening was hardly flawless but the 17,000 or so supporters who decided to attend the game will no doubt be feeling a touch better about their beloved when they hit the road for Saturday’s trip to Blackburn Rovers.

It is arguably the way Queens Park Rangers’ visit should have panned out last weekend.