It hasn’t been a good week for our two Blue youngsters out on loan.
North of the border, Matty Kennedy started his first game for Alan Stubbs’ Hibernian as they hosted Falkirk.
Sadly he could not stop the Bairns from leaving Easter Road with a 1-0 win.
Rory Loy’s back heel was only the goal of the game; however Stubbs will be rueing a host of missed opportunities from his side.
After Loy had opened the scoring as early as the 13th minute, Hibs laid siege to the Falkirk goal, with winger Kennedy a constant menace down the flank.
Stubbs’s side created no less than 18 chances but Bairns keeper Jamie McDonald proved unbeatable, keeping out a well-struck effort from Kennedy in amongst a number of top saves.
Farid El Alagui had the best opportunity just past the hour as his chip looked like floating over McDonald, only for the glovesman – a former Hearts player to add salt to the wounds – to fingertip it over the bar.
Crossing south into England, John Lundstram has played two games for Blackpool since our last round-up.
First up, the central midfielder played the full 90 minutes as the Tangerines surrendered a 1-0 advantage to lose at home to Championship newcomers Brentford.
A couple of first half chances fell Lundstram’s way either side of the opening goal of the game. First he blazed wide from range, then drew a comfortable stop from visiting keeper David Button.
Nathan Delfouneso, one of a raft of free transfer signings made in the summer, gave Jose Riga’s side the lead in the 17th minute, but the London side equalised through Tottenham loanee Alex Pritchard.
After the break, Stuart Dallas struck on 52 minutes to give the Bees the points.
Lundstram and Blackpool had the opportunity to bounce back when they made the short journey to the DW Stadium to take on Wigan. The Everton loanee kept his place in midfield again the Tangerines fell to defeat.
Lundstram saw a first half chance deflected wide by his own team-mate, but by then they were already a goal down as Latics new boy Oriol Riera scored the game’s only goal.
Both Kennedy and Lundstram will hope their luck changes in the coming weeks after tough starts to their respective loan spells.
Keep an eye on evertonfc.com for updates on Everton’s loaned-out youngsters.