Everton lose 1-0 to Stoke in pre-season as Hackney makes debut

Photo: Everton Football Club / CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Everton were beaten 1-0 by Stoke City at bet365 Stadium on Tuesday evening in their third pre-season fixture of the summer.

Summer signing Hayden Hackney made his first appearance for the club, putting in a sharp 45-minute shift before being withdrawn at half-time as planned.

Stoke took the lead in the second half through Gabriel Kelly, who curled a first-time effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the Everton box. The hosts held that advantage through to the final whistle.

Everton had looked the more threatening side in the opening period. Tyrique George caused persistent problems, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Harrison Armstrong and Merlin Röhl also impressed. Röhl, operating at right-back, drove a low ball into the box on 20 minutes that goalkeeper Viktor Johansson tipped away.

Hackney was replaced by Tim Iroegbunam at the break. On 55 minutes, Tyler Dibling cut in from the right and played a one-two with Beto before sliding Dewsbury-Hall into the penalty area, only for his shot to be deflected over the bar.

Manager David Moyes made six changes on the hour, introducing Tom King, Jake O'Brien, Adam Aznou, Charly Alcaraz, Dwight McNeil and Thierno Barry. Late on, O'Brien headed against the crossbar before King denied Milan Smit on a Stoke counter-attack in the 92nd minute.

Everton's pre-season continues in Germany, where they face Hamburg on Saturday 1 August at 4pm BST.