Everton 1 Chelsea 1 - FA Cup match report

Phil Neville was bizarrely quoted in The Observer as saying ''It was a difficult game to lose'' immediately after this sun drenched, deceivingly freezing cold 4th round FA cup tie at Goodison park. You'd be forgiven for thinking he was right too, after seeing the faces on most blues walking out the ground immediately afterwards. Maybe the Everton captains words were taken out of context, either way it felt a bit like a missed opportunity for the toffees knock the holders out and a team that haven't lost in the competition since early 2008.



The first half was largely forgettable with both teams huffing and puffing and looking a little cautious. It looked at times like the current league champions were happy to let Everton keep possession knowing full well that at the murrment, we offer about as much potency in the final third as a spectre's fart. Bilyaletdinov and Rodwell had chances to put us ahead but found Peter Cech in outstanding form, as did Florent Malouda whilst webbing a few efforts Tim Howards way at the other end.

In the second half, Everton set their stall out early on, pressed Chelsea feverishly for the ball, knocked the ball about neatly together and generally got about a side that sported 9 of the 11 players that brushed us aside so easily at Wembley 2 years ago. Marouanne Fellaini continued his recent form and dominated one of the most expensively assembled and talented midfields in the world. Frank Lampard was utterly anonymous. How many times have you heard that after we've played them? Testament in part to the Belgians worryingly imperious display, again.

Thankfully for once, Evertons second half dominance resulted in us taking the lead. Louis Saha who absolutely loves playing this lot, rose unchallenged to meet one of a number of exquisite Leighton Baines corners and planted an absolute peach of header past the flailing Cech. BOOM! Game on...



It was heartening to see that rather than surrendering the ball after taking the lead as we usually do, we got about Chelsea and looked to double the advantage. Chelsea though, with a whole manner of game changing options on the bench, still possessed a horrifying ability to carve us open at will on the break.

Seamus Coleman having another great game, planted a goal bound header which Cech did very well to keep out, arriving late at the back post similar to his goal against Spurs the other week, he looked certain to gobble up the rebound and put the game beyond the visitors, as it was though Michael Essien, a true thoroughbred of a midfielder, launched himself out of nowhere to block the ball. Then in what felt like approximately 2.3 seconds later, Solamon Kalou had latched onto a fortunate cross field ball from the breaking Anelka and levelled the game. What the deuce?

As it was, you couldnt really argue with the end result. Both sides went close in the latter stages, with Cechs save from Beckfords half chance, left footed volley being the pick of the bunch. So with the entirely winnable tie of Reading at home standing in the way of either team reaching the last 8, maybe its time we showed some people how important the FA Cup still is to us and what a real away FA Cup following on a saturday afternoon actually is.

''We're on the march....''