Ross Barkley praised as Ronald Koeman era begins with a win

Everton manager Ronald Koeman declared himself satisfied after his new side eased to a 3-0 pre-season friendly win against Barnsley.

Goals from Kevin Mirallas, Gerard Deulofeu and Ross Barkley ensured Everton gave Koeman the perfect start in his first official friendly in charge.

The team was cheered on by 2,100 travelling Evertonians, desperate to catch a glimpse of the start of a new era.

The win capped a promising week for the Toffees, who also beat FK Jablonec 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors training game in Austria last Saturday.

Speaking after the match Koeman said:

"We created a lot of opportunities and we scored three goals and that's good. That's what you like to see.

"We can do some things better. We can communicate more than we did today but okay you have to understand it is only the third week of the pre-season and every game we need to improve individually and as a team.

"In the second half we controlled the game totally and that was good. I liked that.

"Defensively we had no problems in the second half.

"The clean sheet is not the most important thing but it gives confidence to everybody, especially defending set plays.

"We had some more tall people playing today, but maybe we were a bit lucky not to concede a goal at times but it was a good workout with some good football."

Koeman also singled out Barkley for praise after the England man powered home a spectacular third goal in the second half.

"It was a great goal and it's a great quality if you can shoot with your right and then shoot like that with your left, too.

"I remember him scoring a goal like that last season, I think it was in midweek in a home match. I remember it because Erwin was watching and he scored like this.

"He did well, but it's the first 45 minutes for him."

"What I want to see is that he moves in the midfield, takes good positions between the lines and of course, with his last pass, give good balls.

"He gave a good pass through for Gerard to score.

"And it was hard working from Lennon who won the ball and that is what you need, because the pace Gerard has up top makes it difficult for defenders."

Koeman was also pleased with how the players coped on a hot, humid day in south Yorkshire.

"It's always difficult to press and be mentally sharp in heat like this but we spoke about it.

"We want to press from the front and sometimes it is difficult for the strikers because they are not that type of players who like to press always, but they need to do it.

"It's good. it's training and we need that kind of exercise."