Our Kop cup KO still haunts me

Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 by The Sun

Our Kop cup KO still haunts me
DERBY WOE ... Everton boss Moyes

DAVID MOYES is still haunted by the heartbreak of last season’s FA Cup KO by fierce rivals Liverpool.

And the Everton boss insists the memories of that 2-1 semi-final defeat are driving everyone at Goodison Park back to Wembley this term.

The Toffees are odds-on to reach the last four again after booking a home quarter-final against Roberto Martinez’s Wigan by beating League One side Oldham on Tuesday.

For Moyes, it is another step closer to wiping out the worst day of his management life — when they ran the show against their fellow Merseysiders last April, only to crash to an 87th-minute Andy Carroll winner.

It took the Scottish chief a long time to recover from that loss.

And he revealed it has become the driving force for everyone at the club to put the record straight.

Moyes said: “I still have the disappointment of the semi-final against Liverpool and nothing would give me more pleasure than to get Everton back to Wembley, to try to reach another final.

“I know the players are very much of the same feeling and, although FA Cup ties are never easy, we will be striving to put right the disappointment from last year.”

Keeper Tim Howard lifted the Cup during his Manchester United days and agrees last season’s disappointment can be the inspiration now.

He insisted: “What happened to us last year has given us a real drive to get back there again.

“But the way Wembley makes me feel, makes the team feel and makes the fans feel, that is also giving us that drive.

“It is always tough to lose to Liverpool — and even more so in those circumstances and on that big occasion.

“You puff your chest out when you are going to Wembley, you’re excited, the ticket requests are coming in and the fans are all singing their songs.

“So in order for us to experience that again, we have to get past Wigan. But the draw has been kind and it was good to get a home one at last.”

Everton’s 3-1 win in the fifth-round replay against Oldham appeared comfortable but there
were still times when they struggled against the Latics.

But Howard believes the fact they are yet to recapture their form from earlier this season could actually work for them — because it may see them peak at the right time.

He added: “I don’t think we are firing on all cylinders but that’s a good thing because we’ve still gone through in the cup — with a home draw to come — and are still in the thick of it in the league.

“We know we have to start doing the business but we are still in there.

“We seem to be higher up the league at this stage of the season than we have been in a while.

“I’d sooner not be firing on all cylinders at this point and be where we are than be further down the league, so let’s hope we have something left.

“We spent a lot of energy in the first half of the season and now it’s more about our big players.

“We don’t have a large squad, so it’s going to be about them stepping up to the plate and producing.”