Everton could rue Capital One Cup mistakes

Everton may have made a better-than-expected start in the Premier League but their Capital One Cup defeat at Leeds, a match they were expected to win, will not have gone down well with fans who are desperate to win a trophy.

The Blues, who regularly picked up silverware in the 1980s, have not won anything since the FA Cup back in 1995 and will have looked at this season's League Cup rightly as a trophy they could have added to their honours list.

Boss, David Moyes, has treated the often-disrespected competition seriously in recent years so it was a slight surprise that he opted to make so many changes for the trip to Elland Road.

In the league this season, the Merseysiders have been highly impressive, with a midfield trio of Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar, and Leon Osman particularly eye-catching, but only one of those - Fellaini - started at Leeds, and it was clear they had lost their drive from the middle as a result.

Leeds dominated the first half and Everton were a pale shadow of the side that so expertly saw off Swansea at the weekend, as Moyes' stand-in players struggled to make an impact.

They deservedly fell behind to Aidan White's early opener, and it was only after Rodolph Austin's second goal that the Premier League side woke from their slumber and got back into the game late on, when Sylvain Distin pulled one back.

However, the damage had been done and the fans packed into the away end at Elland Road were to leave disappointed, many aware that probably Everton's best chance of a trophy this season had gone.

There is still the FA Cup to come and their fine start in the league points to a possible top-four challenge from the Merseysiders this season, but with no European football, it is a surprise that Moyes weakened his side considerably for the Leeds trip, as the move dramatically backfired.

It could end up being a memorable campaign for Everton and they will hope that they are not left to reflect on a disappointing night in West Yorkshire, as the moment a trophy slipped through their fingers again.

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