Everton’s Carabao Cup Clash with Mansfield Delayed at New Stadium
The night was meant to be another historic occasion for Everton. Their brand-new Hill Dickinson Stadium had already hosted its first Premier League match just a few days earlier, and now it was set to stage its first ever cup tie – a Carabao Cup second-round clash against Mansfield Town. But before a ball was even kicked, there was drama outside the ground.
Kick-off had been scheduled for 7:45 in the evening, yet thousands of fans were still stuck queuing at the turnstiles when that time came. The start was pushed back by 15 minutes to make sure everyone could get in safely, and even then, large patches of empty seats could still be seen when the whistle finally blew. Everton later explained that the delay was needed to allow “safe access” for supporters into the 52,700-capacity stadium.
The match was a complete sell-out, and Mansfield had brought with them an impressive 6,000 travelling fans, eager to see their side test themselves against Premier League opposition. But frustrations were clear on social media, with Everton’s fan service accounts flooded with complaints about ticketing problems. Since the move away from Goodison Park, the club has scrapped paper tickets in favour of a digital app, and some supporters reported that their match passes had not appeared in their wallets even by Wednesday afternoon.
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Club sources insisted that the issues at the gates were not caused by the new digital system itself, though a small number of fans did experience problems. Those cases, it was said, were handled at the box office before kick-off. Still, queues were long and tensions were high, leading to a less-than-smooth start to what should have been a proud night for the club.
On the pitch, Everton named a strong side, reflecting a desire to finally make a proper run in a competition that has often slipped through their fingers. Despite being one of England’s historic clubs, Everton have never lifted the League Cup, and there is always debate among supporters about how seriously to treat the tournament. This time, senior players like McNeil, Tarkowski, and Grealish were handed starts, though Pickford and Gueye were rested.
The first half itself saw Everton control much of the possession but struggle to create clear chances. Alcaraz forced a smart save from Mansfield’s goalkeeper Roberts, while McNeil and Grealish both squandered opportunities from close range. Mansfield, wearing their bright yellow and blue kit, looked lively on the counter but failed to register a meaningful shot in the opening exchanges. The visitors defended stubbornly, frustrating the Toffees and silencing the new stadium on several occasions.
For Evertonians, the night was a reminder of both excitement and teething problems that come with moving into a new era. The stadium itself looked magnificent under the lights, but the long queues, ticket confusion, and the lack of cutting edge on the field left fans with mixed feelings. Mansfield, for their part, showed resilience and gave the home side plenty to think about.
In the end, the evening wasn’t just about football – it was about adaptation. For Everton, the move from Goodison to Hill Dickinson marks a turning point in their history. Nights like this, frustrating as they may be, are part of settling into a new home. And as the Carabao Cup progresses, both the team and the supporters will hope the focus shifts firmly back onto the football, rather than the queues at the turnstiles.
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