There haven’t been many enjoyable trips this season but 10 years ago today, Evertonians relished one of their best away days of recent times. The Blues had been held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland in their FA Cup quarter-final at Goodison Park 10 days earlier but with a huge travelling contingent roaring them on in their Stadium of Light replay, they secured a Wembley showdown against neighbours Liverpool.
In many ways, the slick display represented the culmination of a decade’s work for David Moyes who believed local police handed his side some extra pre-match motivation after they arrived late. The Blues’ journey from their hotel was severely delayed when the team coach got caught in heavy traffic and road works en route to the Stadium of Light. Everton pulled up at 7.08pm and needed a club media official to hand in their team sheet before the deadline, an hour before kick-off.
Moyes wanted the Blues to leave for the game at 6pm whilst police felt it only necessary for the team bus to depart 10 minutes later. Eventually, they left just after 6pm yet still arrived later than planned. Had Everton left when the police suggested then Moyes’ preparations would have been thrown into greater chaos.
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But the manager believes the rush gave his side an “edge” and helped them produce a bold performance to secure a place in the semi-final with Liverpool. He said: “It gave us a wee edge. They never got us here on time and I hear that’s quite regular up here.”
The ECHO’s Greg O’Keeffe also cited the team’s slow journey to the ground in his match report, stating: “Better late than never. Roadworks and a ponderous police escort delayed Everton’s journey from their Durham hotel to the Stadium of Light yesterday, but there was no stopping David Moyes’ date with destiny.
“At the second time of asking after Sunderland’s stubborn defiance, Everton are going to Wembley. Suddenly that gamble their manager took by juggling his resources before the ill-fated Anfield derby earlier this month has finally paid off.
“The Toffees manager ensured enough of his players had enough in their legs to cap a gruelling schedule of games with arguably their most compelling performance of the season. In the end they did it convincingly; with heart, brains, style and the thunderous, immovable support of 6,200 Evertonians who will wake up today with hoarse voices and smiles as wide as the Mersey.
“Much had been made before this FA Cup quarter-final replay about how closely matched the Toffees were with Sunderland. Equal on points in the Premier League table, and unable to eke out a definitive result at the first time of asking in a close-fought contest.
“But last night the propulsive momentum of the visitors in royal blue was simply too much. Everton, to coin the old cliché, wanted it that tiny bit more, and equally they rose above the high stakes to play the sharper, slicker football.”
Nikica Jelavic, who earlier that month had netted the first of his 11 goals for the club that term following a mid-season move from Rangers who were in financial meltdown, opened the scoring on 24 minutes after being picked out by Magaye Gueye while Everton sealed their victory through an own goal by David Vaughan on 57 minutes, just four minutes after the Sunderland substitute had entered the fray.
Captain Phil Neville proclaimed: “I thought it was a fantastic performance. When you come to an away ground you want to play with no fear and I think we did that tonight.” Meanwhile, his team-mate John Heitinga tweeted: “A long journey home! But the best bus trip of my life! All fans of Everton thanks for this wonderful night!”
