MICHAEL KEANE got the nod in more ways than one to guide Everton through.
He was the only player who retained his place from the side that began their Premier League campaign with a 1–0 win against Tottenham.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti put his trust in the England centre-back to help Everton’s youngest line–up in almost three years see off Salford.
And indeed it was he who headed home Gylfi Sigurdsson’s eighth-minute corner to put the Toffees in control.
But while Keane responded to the responsibility handed to him, Ancelotti will have been less impressed with most of the rest of his team.
In particular Moise Kean, who should have made easy meat of opponents who never looked like they might pull of a giant-killing act.
The League Two side always looked completely out of their class — even against an Ancelotti line–up that lacked focus and intensity.
None more than Kean, who was granted a brilliant chance to gain the Italian’s attention early in the second half.
But he clipped the simplest of chances on to the top of the bar.
The £29million forward has struggled to make his mark since arriving from Juventus last summer.
He is more likely to be dumped before the close of the transfer window than be given another chance by Ancelotti — like most of those who made up his changed side.
Sigurdsson at least did his chances no harm, adding to his assist with a sharp killer blow 16 minutes from the end.
Kean finally did hit the mark from the spot in the 87th minute.
But the striker did so in a game that was nothing more than a walk in the park for he and his team.
