An unsurprisingly disjointed Everton laboured past League One Peterborough and into the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-0 win barely three hours after sacking Sean Dyche.
Dyche prepared and picked the team but was not in the home dugout after days of discussions over his exit came to a head when his sacking was announced just after 4.30pm on Thursday.
Club legends Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman took the reins and watched a familiar story unfold in front of them, with a Jarred Branthwaite block needed to deny Cian Hayes a potential opener after a corner was allowed to bounce in the home box.
Everton remained unable to unlock League One's leakiest defence until the 42nd minute, when Beto beat the offside trap to latch onto Harrison Armstrong's excellent pass and round Nicholas Bilokapic and slot into an empty net.
Things were barely more fluid after half-time with Armstrong one of few to shine, and the hosts' tough day took another blow as second-half substitute Armando Broja's wretched run of fitness continued when he was forced off 20 minutes after coming on.
The Chelsea loanee was stretchered off and taken straight to hospital with what appeared a serious ankle injury. He had already been restricted to only six appearances in his first half a season on Merseyside.
There was something to bring the mood back up for the home side in added time, as Iliman Ndiaye slotted home their second from the penalty spot after Branthwaite had been brought down in the box and ensured Everton will feature in Sunday's fourth-round draw.