David Moyes slams “poor” penalties in the shootout against Sunderland

David Moyes was left unhappy with his side’s performance in the penalty shootout against Sunderland that saw them crash out of the FA Cup in the third round.

The Toffees chased shadows of the opposition for most of the contest after Enzo Le Fee put Sunderland ahead after the half-hour mark. Adam Aznou came off the bench for his first official appearance in a royal blue shirt and won a penalty that forced extra time.

With both sides unable to find a go-ahead goal in extra time, the Hill Dickinson Stadium saw its first penalty shootout. However, it turned out to be an absolute nightmare as James Garner, Thierno Barry and Beto all saw their tame efforts saved by Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs while Jordan Pickford couldn’t manage a single save.

“I don't think you blame anybody when you lose a penalty shootout. It's something that can happen, the goalkeeper is there to make saves,” David Moyes said after the game.

“But I think there is a way to lose if you're going to do that. It felt as if we didn't look as if we didn't do it in that way and that's why we have all walked away with huge disappointment.”

Further clarifying his point, Moyes - most likely hinting at the lack of conviction in Beto and Barry’s penalties - said, “We did a great job to get back in the game and get ourselves level with what was available. But when we get to that point, you're hoping to go on and show it and it was poor.

"Someone has to win a penalty shootout and someone has to lose it but I do think there is a way to win it and a way to lose it. I didn't think the way we lost it today was the right way in the taking of it.”

Reader Comments (33)

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2 Posted 11/01/2026 at 13:30:28

The way to win that penalty shoot out is not to let them two useless bastards, Barry and Beto, take any penalties.

Beto missed one against West Ham a couple of seasons back which was as bad as that miserable effort yesterday. Barry can't strike a ball so whoever put them on penalties wants choking.

McNeil, Tarkowski and Aznou were all available so let them take one -- not them two who haven't got an ounce of confidence in them.

The sooner we get our missing players back, the better, cos their replacements just aren't up to it.

Kevin Molloy 4 Posted 11/01/2026 at 13:41:34

So the verdict is in. Eleven players out, and drawing with Sunderland yesterday with a final XI with Adam, Reece and Elijah on the pitch, and two teenagers. The fact we then lost the penalty shootout is all Moyes's fault.

Right. And this is in the first month of his second year in charge. His first year delivered a 60-point season, from a team which, when he took over, had scored 2 goals in 10 games.

When did we (you) become so hysterical and unreasonable?

Raymond Fox 6 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:09:03

Moyes doesn't 'slam' the penalties -- he says they were poorly taken, thats Andishnu using an emotive language title, trying to stir it.

I thought that's what we are all saying, they were poor penalty attempts.

Michael Kenrick 7 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:30:47

Kevin @4,

You say here and elsewhere there were 11 players out…

I wonder if you can name them all?

Mark Murphy 8 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:39:41

KeaneBranthwaiteGana GueyeDewsbury HallNdiaye GrealishAlcarazIbroegbunamColemanThat's 9. Who are the other two?

Jim Bennings 9 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:43:53

If I had to pick them, I'd probably have selectrd Garner the first taker in fairness; however, I'd have gone out of the box and picked Jordan Pickford because one of his strongest suits is his technical ability and I'd have backed him confidently.

My other selection would have been Tarkowski because you can be certain he'd have absolutely wellied it.

Alan J Thompson 11 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:53:00

I assume that Moyes decided who and in what order the penalties would be taken, so is he now telling us he had never seen or had no idea who might be competent?

Or did he, in true managerial fashion, just call for volunteers?

Still, given the injuries, he probably thought the others just represented 10 pressed men.

Josh Horne 12 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:59:18

Wrexham's penalties on Friday against Forest were absolutely faultless.

It's almost as if they knew this was a likely scenario and prepared for it... the cheating bastards.

Kevin Molloy 13 Posted 11/01/2026 at 14:59:54

We lost our fullbacks as well during the game, Michael.

By the finish, we had kids all over the place.

Eddie Dunn 14 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:18:04

Alan, as penalties loomed, I saw Baines writing down the list.

Martin Reppion 15 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:23:40

Eddie. I couldn't see what Baines was writing.

It could have been the coaching staff's order for the chippy after the game.

Bill Fairfield 16 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:36:18

The club's build up to the game lacked conviction.

Little wonder the team also did.

John Williams 17 Posted 11/01/2026 at 15:49:47

I would love too see some of you guys on here manager this squad of players. You would be out of Finch Farm faster than Usain Bolt. We have a very poor squad of players who would struggle in the Zingari League if it was still going.

Many don't have the same loyalty to the club as many supporters do, they are here for the money. They will move on to another club, kiss the badge and bank the money.

The game is so different to the older days, when players arrived in this area, played for the club, and settled down and stayed in the area after their footballing days were over.

It's a different footballing era; sadly, we can only accept it.

Mark Murphy 19 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:43:23

Steve, I'm trying to think of the 11 injured. I can only think of those 9?

Barry and Beto may be shite but they aren't injured.

Mark Murphy 20 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:47:23

Injured or unavailable, I meant.

Mark Murphy 21 Posted 11/01/2026 at 17:59:34

When Grealish, Ndiaye, Dewsbury-Hall and Gana are all available again, what do we do with Harrison Armstrong?

Mike Gaynes 22 Posted 11/01/2026 at 18:10:06

Murph #21, I hope we send him back to Preston.

Four months in the crucible of a Championship playoff race will season him into a top professional much better than sitting on our bench watching Garner, Gana and maybe Dewsbury-Hall or Iroegbunam play his position.

I think he would come back to us starter-ready for next season.

Martin Berry 24 Posted 11/01/2026 at 18:18:06

Sunderland knew how to take penalties, hit it hard and accurate, no fancy "fannying" around.

Did we not practice penalties in training? Obviously not; otherwise, surely they would have been better. That is a question that should have been asked.

We also need a set-piece coach because we don't know how to defend or score from them; our record at this time is awful.

Eric Haworth 25 Posted 11/01/2026 at 20:25:08

Kevin #4 & Mike #23, Well said, and that's from someone who is far from being a David Moyes apologist. In fact, I was never in favour of his return, which was more than rumour on more than one occasion whilst Mr Kenwright was still with us.

But given our plight and The Friedkin Group's priority in initially stabilising their investment, I can see a logic in their actions. I think those of us whose vision is not clouded by their historical prejudices can admit that, despite it being less than palatable for some of us, it appears they've achieved their goal and David Moyes is doing precisely what he was brought in to do?

As for yesterday (and other recent performances), who among us doubts that most of those results would have been reversed with a full strength squad, and we'd been sitting where Brentford currently are (even despite two expensively acquired strikers who seemingly can't kick a ball, but that's for another thread).

How this goes on to unfold in the future, who knows, because I don't, although I fear those prejudices that clearly still exist will continue to surface.

Dave Abrahams 26 Posted 11/01/2026 at 20:51:03

Eric (25),

Well, you could start from the beginning of the season and look at the Brighton and Crystal Palace games and see we were very lucky to get those 6 points.

Sunderland away, after starting the game very well, we were lucky to get a point. Same with the two home games vs West Ham and Aston Villa; after relinquishing the lead were very lucky to keep the point vs West Ham and in the Villa game, they looked more likely to get the winner.

In fact, if you look at nearly every home game, I doubt if there has been an outstanding performance... possibly Fulham, where the score flattered Fulham but even they were allowed to get back in the game.

I'm happy we have got those 29 points at this stage. If there are no newcomers, which looks very likely, then there could be some very shaky moments to come before the end of the season.

Alan J Thompson 28 Posted 12/01/2026 at 04:34:15

Eddie (#14),

Are you saying that Moyes didn't see that as important enough to give his full attention? As they say, the devil is in the detail.

Mick O\'Malley 29 Posted 12/01/2026 at 08:00:32

John, maybe because we aren't football managers, I'd love to see Moyes flag a back garden or Tarmac a footpath. I bet he can't.

Sunderland also had plenty of players unavailable. Macclesfield dumped a nearly full-strength Premier League team out of the FA Cup; we went out with a whimper yet again. Just like we always do, at home in the 3rd round.

Craig Walker 30 Posted 12/01/2026 at 16:59:13

When it went to penalties, did anyone expect anything different to happen?

We lose shoot-outs, most of the time. The RS win shoot-outs, most of the time. Penalties are a microcosm of being an Everton fan; optimism turns to despair within minutes.

You would think, knowing our record, that our team and manager would have pushed for a winner in extra time.

Steve Brown 32 Posted 13/01/2026 at 01:48:31

Mark @ 19, sorry I was making a lame joke about Barry and Beto's lack of contribution.

They might as well be injured for all the difference they make,