Moyes' boys go marching on
It is days like yesterday that become engraved into Evertonian hearts and folklore, reminding the fans why they invest so much faith, heartache and money into following the club. No better feeling when the going is good, no worse a feeling when the opposite is true.
Such a low point was evident last weekend following a horrific display at the Reebok Stadium where Everton slumped to a miserable defeat, leaving David Moyes looking increasingly like a man nearing the end of his tether.
But on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, Everton produced a display that was Everton under David Moyes personified. Graft, guile and an unshakeable desire to come out of the battle victorious.
The look on David Moyes' face as Everton recorded a first FA Cup win over Chelsea since 1956 was a memorable one. Calm and cool with just a hint of a smile which suggested he had cast aside a few demons with such a precious victory which keeps Everton's season alive. Hanging by a thread, albeit.
Post match it was he who applauded the 6000 raucous Evertonians who had made the journey down south and rightly so. There was a belief prior to the game - a desperation almost - in many of the fans and they came to the bridge in a defiant manner much alike to the players. Chants of 'We're on the march' reverberated around the stadium making a mockery of a pathetic Chelsea home support who mustered up a half-hearted, and somewhat predictable rendition of 'You'll never get a job.'
Everton made the brighter start with Mikel Arteta spreading the play nicely and looking to bring Leighton Baines into play. The Toffees were organised and - as has been the case many times this season - were looking comfortable in possession with Sylvain Distin marshalling the back four superbly.
Yet it was Chelsea who had the first real chance of the game as John Terry fired a glorious opening over the bar after Phil Jagielka's header had rebounded off the post from Frank Lampard's teasing cross. Leaning back, the Chelsea captain should have put the home side up with the goal gaping just eight yards out.
Everton went close to taking the lead themselves in the 22nd minute, but Jermaine Beckford failed to make a connection from Baines' wonderful cross into the box as they continued to look threatening.
But for all their good play, Everton could have found themselves behind as Chelsea carved out another great chance minutes later.
Salomon Kalou worked the ball into the area for Frank Lampard after good work down the left, Lampard laying the ball off to the onrushing Florent Malouda who could only manage to shoot straight at Tim Howard.
The pressure was building on Everton as Chelsea worked another great opening when Didier Drogba played Malouda through on goal. The Frenchman, with Tim Howard advancing towards him, tried to clip the ball over the Everton stopper but the American was there again to keep them at bay.
Then came a moment of controversy that brought the opening half to a dramatic close. Ramires stole in behind the Everton defence and beat Tim Howard to the ball in the area, but the Brazilian went down far too easily for Phil Dowd's liking, picking up a booking for simulation.
The start of the second half undoubtedly belonged to Chelsea. The home side pressurising an Everton defence that hadn't kept a clean sheet in 12 games.
There were no clear cut chances as such but a few scary moments which were to set the tone for a half which was dictated by Chelsea.
Didier Drogba whipped in a fizzing inswinging cross which was well dealt with by Tim Howard with Kalou in close proximity.
However, despite such pressure Chelsea had to wait until the 65th minute to carve out two great opportunities to open the scoring.
The first fell to Frank Lampard who could only divert Ramires' cross straight at the sprawling legs of Tim Howard. The second fell to Branislav Ivanovic who took advantage of some poor Everton marking from a corner, only to see his instinctive volley be cleared off the line.
Everton's best moment of the half came towards the end of the 90 and Victor Anichebe almost made an immediate impact after coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov - who had been brought on to replace Tim Cahill - drilled a low cross into the six yard box with Anichebe agonisingly close to getting what probably would have been a winning goal.
They were nearly made to regret that miss just a minute later as Frank Lampard missed a guilt edged opportunity to steal the show late on.
After a swift counter attack, Florent Malouda found space in the box before laying the ball back to Lampard who could only chip the ball way over the bar to leave Everton well and truly in the game.
Marouane Fellaini thought he had won the game for Everton in the last minute of normal time but his effort was ruled out was offside. Leighton Baines' right-footed drive was parried by Petr Cech to the Belgian international, lurking with intent, but despite tucking the ball under the despairing dive of Cech, the flag went up for offside and the decision was proved to be correct on further viewing, marginally, however.
To extra time and it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock just before the first half drew to a close. 104 minutes were on the clock and it was Frank Lampard who gave the hosts a precious lead.
Fantastic work by Anelka down the right hand side saw the ball clipped into the box where Didier Drogba chested the ball down for Lampard to slam home a timely opener.
Lampard celebrates what looked like being the winning goal.
But Everton weren't to be denied the opportunity to take the game into penalties as Leighton Baines equalised in outstanding fashion with just a minute remaining of extra time.
After Branislav Ivanovic had pushed Phil Jagielka in the back, Phil Dowd awarded Everton a free kick just 20 yards out. The Evertonians knew that it was to be the last chance to salvage the game and it was Baines who was their saviour.
It took just a few small steps before he unleashed a sumptuous curling effort into the top corner of Petr Cech's net to send the travelling Evertonians into dreamland.
Baines revels in the moment after he takes the tie into penalties with a delightful free kick.
It was to take penalties to separate the sides and leave fingernails at a premium.
Frank Lampard expertly slammed home his penalty before, ironically, Leighton Baines' penalty was well saved by Cech.
Didier Drogba made it 2-0 to Chelsea before Phil Jagielka held his nerve to keep Everton in the tie, their hopes hanging somewhat thinly by a thread.
Yet their luck changed as Tim Howard produced a fine save from Nicolas Anelka's penalty, and his celebrations after it suggested that he knew which was he was going. Anelka's face showed exactly what it meant to him, not much, as he walked away without even a hint of bother.
Up stepped Mikel Arteta who rifled home a delightful penalty to even up the scores at 2-2 before Micheal Essien and Johnny Heitinga dispatched their penalties confidently to leave the score at 3-3.
Ashley Cole was next, and with Johnny Heitinga walking back to the centre circle following his successful penalty, the two went, literally, shoulder-to-shoulder. This seemed to have affected Cole and it showed as he blazed his penalty over the bar amid taunts of 'Cheryl! Cheryl! Cheryl!' from the Everton fans.
Phil Neville had the chance to send Everton through the the fifth round of the cup, the influential and fearless captain doing what many would have shied away from when placing himself in the fifth penalty taker position.
Taking two steps back he awaited the signal of Phil Dowd and slammed home an unstoppable penalty into the top corner to cue scenes of unbridalled joy amongst the masses of Everton fans.
His celebration was one not to forget. Jogging over to the Evertonians with a hint of arrogance on his face before spreading his arms out to either side, awaiting the arrival of the ecstatic Everton playing staff and management.
Phil Neville is joined by his team mates after securing the win for Everton.
The jubilation continued long after the game and the Everton fans showed Chelsea what real support is like. Flags and banners were in abundance in the Chelsea stands. 'Norway supporters branch', 'New York Blues' and 'Texas Blues' - many Evertonians would have been excused for thinking they were in Anfield.
Everton may not have the money of Chelsea, the recent success even of Chelsea, yet they do have the support and the history. An argument that Chelsea fans are becoming sick and tired of but one with real substance. Such loyalty cannot be bought and that is simply that.
Chelsea fans will argue "It's what happens on the pitch that matters" or "When was the last time you won anything?" - Unfortunately that is just an ignorance that is ever growing amongst the so called bigger clubs.
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