Jan 8 2011
by Greg O’Keeffe, Liverpool Echo
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EVERTON strolled into the draw for the fourth round of the FA cup after cruising to a 5-1 victory over Championship side Scunthorpe United.
David Moyes fielded a strong line-up featuring six current international players, that was rarely troubled after surviving a brief rally by The Iron after half time.
It keeps the Blues’ last hopes of silverware this season alive, and maintains the Goodison feel-good factor after the mid-week win over Spurs.
David Moyes had made just three changes from the side which beat Tottenham on Wednesday; Leon Osman started while Mikel Arteta was rested, Tony Hibbert replaced skipper Phil Neville and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov enjoyed a rare start in place of Steven Pienaar.
Just as against Harry Redknapp’s side, Everton had the perfect start thanks to an early goal by Louis Saha. The similarities didn’t stop there either; as Seamus Coleman was the provider again, playing in the Frenchman who cut inside and beat former Tranmere keeper Joe Murphy, this time with a low left footed strike.
Only four minutes were passed but it set the tone for a relatively comfortable afternoon.
Things settled into a pedestrian pace after the opener, as Everton kept things tight on a patchy surface.
But shortly after the half hour mark, stand-in captain Osman was given too much space on the right, and ghosted inside to deliver a pin-point cross into the area that ex-Scunthorpe man Jermaine Beckford finished with a cool header after nipping in front of home skipper David Mirfin.
The Blues had enjoyed the vast majority of possession, crafting more than enough chances to have crushed the Championship struggler’s spirit comprehensively.
And even though Beckford missed enough clear opportunities to have a guaranteed match ball at the break, the Toffee’s dominance never looked like being challenged.
They underlined their constant threat just before the break when Saha connected sweetly with a header from Leighton Baines’ free kick, drawing another smart save from Murphy.
The Iron emerged after the interval to a burst of punk rock, and instantly showed they were in defiant mood. A long ball over the top from Josh Wright caught Everton’s back four snoozing too high up the pitch, and midfielder Michael Collins out-stripped Sylvain Distin for pace to rifle an impressive first-time shot past a despairing Tim Howard.
The goal woke up the home crowd, and evened the contest for a spell. Suddenly Ian Baraclough’s side were playing with confidence, and Michael O’Connor went close from long range.
But Everton weathered the storm and produced a simple goal to effectively kill the tie soon after.
Beckford did well after popping up on the left flank to find space and curl a cross into the area, and Seamus Coleman made no mistake to score his second header in two games and his fifth goal of the campaign.
With the result in the bag, Marouane Fellaini got the travelling Evertonians singing in the cold again with a neat finish after he was given plenty of time on the edge of the area, and was promptly replaced by Jack Rodwell.
Then Leighton Baines claimed the goal of the day with six minutes left, curling a delightful effort into the top right hand corner to leave the demoralised home keeper grasping at thin air.
It was a welcome display of clinical finishing by Moyes’ side to ensure smooth progress in a competition the Scot is determined to one day win. Could this be his year to go one better than 2009 when he reached the final? Don’t bet against it.
EVERTON: (4-4-2) Howard, Hibbert, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Bilyaletdinov, Osman (capt), Fellaini (Rodwell, 75), Coleman (Gueye, 79), Saha (Anichebe, 64), Beckford.
Subs not used: Mucha, Arteta, Neville, Yakubu.
Bookings: Heitinga.
Goals: Saha (4), Beckford (33), Coleman (58), Fellaini (74), Baines (83)
SCUNTHORPE UNITED: (4-4-2) Murphy, Wright (Togwell, 79), Jones (Raynes, 46), Woolford, O’Connor, Dagnall (Godden, 67) Forte, Mirfin (capt), Wright, Collins, Nolan.
Subs not used: Slocombe, Grant, McClenahan, Cowan-Hall
Bookings:
Goals: Collins (46)
Attendance: 7,028
Referee: Kevin Friend
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