Everton 3 Villa 1: Bill Howell's big match verdict

Feb 16 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

It has been a competition of sorrow since they got into two semi-finals and a quarter-final in the five years since Johnny Dixon held aloft the trophy.

But for a 20-minute spell of pressure up until Everton’s killer third goal, where two good chances went begging to John Carew and Steve Sidwell, Villa were below par.

Apart from Stiliyan Petrov – who may not have been on the pitch above three minutes had referee Martin Atkinson been hasty in awarding a spot-kick and red card for deliberate handball on the line rather than allow the advantage and a goal – the defeat could have been much heavier.

Despite Heskey’s no-show, the loss of Gareth Barry to suspension and long-term absentee Martin Laursen, O’Neill sent out his strongest side.

It was the bench where Villa looked woefully short, although the first sight of 19-year-old winger Marc Albrighton was particularly welcome.

Less than three-and-a-half minutes in and they were behind.

Tim Cahill’s header from Mikel Arteta’s corner saw Petrov block on the line with his hand.

Fortunately for the Bulgarian the rebound was kind to Jack Rodwell who lashed into the roof of the net.

Three minutes later and the statisticians were jumping for joy at the first FA Cup penalty scored against Everton on the ground since Bill Shankly for Preston in 1946.

Petrov slid a delicious pass to Gabby Agbonlahor who was tapped by Tony Hibbert.

Tim Howard looked to have saved James Milner’s effort but the ball squirmed under his body.

But Villa’s joy was short-lived.

Craig Gardner took on too many players on a forceful run and lost the ball. Everton broke and Victor Anichebe powered towards the area through a lacklustre defence.

Sidwell brought him crashing down. Penalty. No debate. The excellent Arteta sent Brad Freidel the wrong way, shooting low to the keeper’s right. Had the American guessed right he would not have got there.

Dan Gosling smashed into the side netting but Villa created two golden chances to be at least level at the break.

Curtis Davies, whose shoulder had popped out of its joint earlier, sneaked away from Cahill but sent a free header from Milner’s corner straight at Howard.

Worse was to follow when Agbonlahor, unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box to Ashley Young’s inswinging cross, missed it completely and it hit his right shoulder and flew inches wide.

Villa were really turning on the gas around the hour but to their dismay Howard produced a quite brilliant save to deny John Carew whose flick from Milner’s cross looked goal-bound until the American’s fingertips intervened to push it around the post.

Friedel was called into action after Cahill rose highest to Leighton Baines’ cross.

Sidwell, poor throughout, should have levelled from Milner’s cross but sent a cushioned header towards a non-existent onrushing striker.

Ashley Young drilled a half-chance over the crossbar then Everton killed the game through Cahill’s miss-hit, which crept into the net beyond Friedel.