Sheffield Wednesday 0 Everton 3: The occasion, setting and executions could not have been further removed from that magical night in Paris against France a fortnight ago, but James McFadden enraptured another Scot last night when he guided David Moyes' Everton into the fourth round with another virtuoso display.
Scotland's man of the moment spared the manager from the latest in a long line of cup traumas with the club as his two goals and assist for Yakubu Ayegbeni helped Everton make uncharacteristically light work of Sheffield Wednesday.
Moyes rested Andrew Johnson and preferred to work Yakubu and McFadden into form instead.
But it was Wednesday, led by the former Evertonian Francis Jeffers, who carried the early promise. The forgotten talent was evidently out to impress having scored his first for the Owls against Hull on Saturday and he almost prospered inside the opening minute, beating Alan Stubbs to a knock-down from Jermaine Johnson but colliding with the goalkeeper Stefan Wessels, who required lengthy treatment.
Jeffers twice released Johnson down the right only for the midfielder to shoot wide on both occasions. Everton were fortunate to reach the interval with 11 men after Tony Hibbert scythed through Wade Small but escaped a second booking.
Phil Neville replaced him at the interval to avoid any impending red card and the improvement was immediate. With his second touch the captain crossed for Leon Osman to volley wide before the breakthrough.
Steven Pienaar, the midfielder on a season's loan from Borussia Dortmund, sent Yakubu clear of the offside trap and a weighted pass across goal from the striker delivered a simple tap-in for McFadden.
The Scot then headed home Neville's cross in the 84th minute and, a minute later, sent Yakubu clear of the defence, and the Nigerian produced a nonchalant finish to settle the tie.
Guardian Service
SHEFF WED:Grant, Gilbert, Hinds, Wood, Simek, Whelan, Jermaine Johnson (Burton 67), Small, Kavanagh (Lunt 80), Tudgay, Jeffers (Sodje 73). Subs Not Used: Burch, Bullen.
EVERTON:Wessels, Hibbert (Neville 46), Lescott, Stubbs, Nuno Valente (Baines 64), Jagielka, Pienaar, Osman, Carsley, McFadden, Yakubu (Anichebe 86). Subs Not Used: Ruddy, Johnson. Booked: Hibbert, Jagielka.
Referee: Rob Styles (Hampshire)
