David Moyes annoyed after Everton players allowed the one thing he didn’t want vs Sunderland

Everton’s FA Cup campaign is already over, and David Moyes cut a frustrated figure at the final whistle on Saturday afternoon.

The Toffees returned to the Hill Dickinson Stadium following last weekend’s defeat to Brentford and a midweek draw with Wolves, this time hosting Sunderland. Supporters were hoping to see a reaction.

While Premier League survival remains the main focus, there was a strong appetite to make a serious push in the FA Cup, particularly given how long it has been since Everton last lifted major silverware. Instead, they exited the competition after a 1-1 draw, losing on penalties.

It marked an unwanted piece of history, with Everton failing to score a single spot-kick in a shootout for the first time.

After the match, Moyes was especially irritated by how much control his side allowed Sunderland to have.

Concerns are growing among supporters about Everton’s form under the Scot, with home performances proving particularly troubling.

The Hill Dickinson Stadium was expected to become a stronghold, but in recent weeks Everton have looked uneasy at Bramley-Moore Dock, perhaps weighed down by the expectations of the home crowd.

On the day, Sunderland were the superior side and fully merited their place in the next round, with Everton fortunate to force extra time thanks to a late penalty award.

Moyes admitted his frustration at seeing the visitors dictate the tempo. He said: “A lot of the players came in and did as best as they could do. There are no complaints. But in the first half, we didn’t do well enough.

“We were too passive. We didn’t want to allow them any domination of the ball, and we did. We found it difficult.

Getting the message across and trying to change it wasn’t easy at the time. We got after them at half-time and I thought the players did a really good job.”

The statistics underlined Everton’s struggles, with Sunderland edging possession at 53 per cent and registering 16 shots, six of them on target. Everton managed 14 efforts, with only three testing the goalkeeper.

Once again, Moyes’ side are feeling the absence of several key players. Iliman Ndiaye’s creativity is sorely missed in the final third, while the lack of Jarrad Branthwaite, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Idrissa Gana Gueye has also taken its toll.

It has been a difficult start to 2026 for the club, but the return of injured players should provide a lift.

If Everton can also strengthen effectively in the transfer window, there may still be grounds for optimism — and perhaps even a faint hope of pushing towards the European places.