Blues blast beats Blackpool bravado

For his sixth consecutive home cup tie of the season, David Moyes was forced to go with Drenthe and Gueye as his wingmen, with Landon Donovan denied his Goodison finalé by a bout of flu. Fellaini would play up front, almost as a second striker alongside Stracqualursi, rather than in the hole occupied to such minimal effect in recent months by Moyes's first-choice favourite, Tim Cahill, who was out injured. Coleman returned to the bench along with a young lad called Barkley and big striker, João Silva, recalled from his season-long loan back home in Portugal.

Everton started brilliantly, a good move down the left seeing Baines feed Gueye who advanced and crossed in classic style, Fellaini setting up Drenthe for a lovely curled shot that had Goodison rocking in the sunshiine on the first attack inside 48 seconds!!!

The Blues followed that up by scoring in the 7th minutes, Stracqualursi poking home from close range at the second attempt off a top-class Drenthe corner that was glanced on by Fellaini as Blackpool's defence appeared transfixed. Anticipation of a rare Goodison Goalfest was palpable...

But Blackpool forced their way back into it a little after the early maelstrom, winning a dangerous free-kick that Phillips drove into the Everton wall. Then Howard had to come out and make a desperate block on Taylor-Fletcher as he went to shoot off a dangerous throughball from Taylor that sliced through the Blues defence. Taylor-Fletcher came off worst in the clash and was replaced by Bednar after extensive treatment that ended with him being carried off on a stretcher.

Everton put together another couple of pacey attacks that both deserve goals, Drenthe again pushing forward and feeding a great ball to Gueye but Gibson stole it off his foot and made an awful mess of a great chance. Then Gueye got forward down the left and played in a top-notch cross that was just a foot or so too fast for Stracqualursi to convert. Great attacking football!!!!

But Everton played part of the first half in less adventurous manner, resorting to the dreadful plays from advanced positions all the way back to Howard for the pointless big hoof that hands over possession! Maddening.

They got into better mode before the break, putting in a couple more worthwhile attacks that almost came off: Fellaini having a feirce drive shot deflected wide, Stracqualursi heading a great cross just over the bar, and Drenthe curled a lovely free-kick just over the angle.

At the other end, Howard had to stretch for a Sylvester grass-cutter that earnt a corner which led to a couple more that Everton defended solidly through to the break.

Fellaini had what looked like two good chances on 50 minutes but could not wrap his foot around it, one a great set-up by Stracq that Harris somehow blocked for a corner, and off the Drenthe short corner, Neville's cross fell nicely for a volley the Big Belgian got all wrong.

Seamus Coleman made a welcome return, replacing Magaye Gueye, who had played well. Drenthe, full of energy, powered a fantastic drive to the top corner that forded a good save for Gilks. Off the corner a free header for Heitinga squirmed over the bar.

At the other end, Bednar won another clever free-kick, backing into Heitinga, but Phillips thankfully drove it straight at Howard. Another Phillips free-kick was a humdinger that glanced off the far angle of the Gwladys Street goal as Blackpool did their best to unsettle the comfortable home side.

A final throw of the dice from Ian Holloway: a double substitution with 20 mins left, to see if Blackpool could get something after dominating the second half as Everton returned into their familiar defensive shell, happy with a defendable two-goal lead, a really poor Drenthe corner summing up the mindset of "we have what we hold". Even when they did produce a decent counter attack, Coleman went on one of his trademark runs and cut a perfect ball back to Stracq who lazily shanked it high, wide and horrible.

Into the last 10 minutes and Coleman at least was having some fun, and another great run set up Fellaini at the far post but his shot beat the keeper only to be blocked away off the line. A fantastic Drenthe cross came in from the left, set up perfectlyfor Fellaini to nod the ball over the bar!!! Incredibly sequence of misses by the big man.

Young Ross Barkley was then introduced for his 2012 debut in place of Gibson, as Everton put more pressure for a rousing end to the match,a great Baines cross falling for Coleman at the far post that he drove in but it would have gone wide if not saved by Gilks. Vellios then replace Stracq for the last few minutes.

A fantastic Lua Lua strike in the dying minutes forced a fingertip save off Howard that glanced off the post. Then Bednar again conned the ref, fouling Heitinga to win a very bizarre penalty that Phillips, with hearts apounding, justly blasted over.

In the end, it was a comfortable and 'professional' win. It could have been a monsoon of goals for the big crowd (38,347) after the initial flood... but this is Everton and a big win with more than two goals is a very rare thing these days. 6th Round here we come!

Howard, Hibbert, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Gueye (57' Coleman), Gibson (81' Barkley), Neville, Fellaini, Drenthe, Stracqualursi (89' Vellios).Subs: Hahnemann, Silva, Forshaw, Baxter.

Original Source: ToffeeWeb Match Report Page

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