EVERTON FC manager David Moyes admits supporters are not excited by the early rounds of the Carling Cup – last night’s strung out affair at Goodison Park will have done little to discount that theory.

Even though they salvaged going out at the third round stage exit for the second consecutive year by the skin of their teeth when Marouane Fellaini levelled late on and Phil Neville struck sweetly in extra-time, Everton have done little in recent times to evoke excitement in a competition which more often than not draws accusations of contempt rather than it does draw in the crowds.

Moyes, for the most part, could not be accused of prioritising forthcoming fixtures over the league cup and knows it represents arguably the side’s best chance of achieving European football for next term.

However his players failed to respond in kind for long periods as an experimental West Bromwich Albion side, drastically changed for their last Premier League game at Swansea, showed adequate attacking intent to force Everton into a rescue job which should not have been required.

As the few Evertonians, who displayed their unflinching loyalty to the club in this competition, sat out extra-time at Goodison last night they will have felt their team made hard work just to be in with a shout after the 90 minutes were up.

But perhaps they stayed knowing that with their ever green captain on the field, their team was always in with a chance of making amends for what went on in normal time.