Everton crashed out of the Europa League with a 3-0 defeat to Lyon.

David Unsworth’s side headed to France needing at least a draw to keep what slim chances they had of qualifying for the knock-out stages intact.

A solid first half showing had suggested that the Blues might escape with a point.

But second-half goals from Bertrand Traore, Houssem Aouar and then Memphis Depay saw them crash to their second 3-0 defeat in Europe this season.

That result, coupled with Apollon Limassol’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta elsewhere in Group E, saw them exit the competition with still two games to spare.

Here were the key talking points from the Groupama Stadium:

Unsworth’s blown his chance

 

David Unsworth had four games before the international break to make the Everton job his own.

The erstwhile under-23 has now presided over three defeats as caretaker of the Blues and it is hard to see him being interviewed for the permanent role.

Those games have failed to see the team at least show some signs of an upward trajectory and that includes the improved second 45 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

In truth, fate has worked against Unsworth with trips to Chelsea, Leicester City and Lyon hardly the easiest fixtures for which to stake his claim.

But he has done little to nothing that will have caught the eye of Farhad Moshiri or justified chairman Bill Kenwright’s apparent desire to let him step up.

Lady Luck eludes Everton again

 

For all the problems Everton have had this season, they have been unlucky for large periods too.

It was much the same for them in this defeat at the Groupama Stadium as Lady Luck refused to shine on them once again.

A first goal came courtesy of a deflected block falling into Bertrand Traore’s path and right in the middle of the visitors’ best spell in the entire game.

Similarly, at the other end, Idrissa Gueye and Gylfi Sigurdsson were both unfortunate to not open the scoring in their side’s favour.

It is undeniable that Everton have performed poorly so far this season but a change of luck would also aid their attempts to turn things around.

Blues haunted by left-back failure

 

Failure to replace Romelu Lukaku is a topic that has been raked over on multiple occasions in Everton’s current fall from grace.

What has often been overlooked is their failure to sign a sufficient back-up to Leighton Baines at left-back – and it came back to haunt them in Lyon.

When Cuco Martina headed off injured following a nasty landing, his side were left with few options to plug the holes in their defence.

Eventually, Unsworth was forced to use Jonjoe Kenny in the role and shifted Muhamed Besic, a defensive midfielder by trade, to right-back.

The failure to sign a new striker was a huge mistake but the problems are evident elsewhere and a strong summer transfer window now looks like a disastrous one.

Time for Gueye to take slack

 

After his impressive performances in his first season, Idrissa Gueye is a firm favourite among the fan base.

Indeed, it appears his popularity has spread to the boardroom with reports that the Senegal midfielder is close to signing an improved deal at Goodison Park.

If that new contract does appear, however, it is time for Gueye to start justifying it with an improved level of performance.

His displays have not been at the low levels of some but there is still no denying he is playing far below the levels he showed in his debut season.

This Everton team lacks drive and determination at the moment and Gueye is one who could provide it if he upped his game to get them out of their slump.