Times Sport
Sunderland's bogey team Everton await in FA Cup last eight
8:00am Monday 20th February 2012
SUNDERLAND will have to see off their biggest bogey team after yesterday's FA Cup quarter-final draw handed them a testing trip to Premier League rivals Everton.
The Black Cats will travel to Goodison Park on either Saturday, March 17 or Sunday, March 18 after booking their place in the last eight with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday evening.
The draw means they have avoided Tottenham and Chelsea, who both require replays after fifth-round draws with Stevenage and Birmingham respectively, but Everton hardly represent a soft touch given Sunderland's wretched record against David Moyes' side.
It is 1996 since the Black Cats last won at Goodison Park and 2001 since they last recorded a win of any description over Everton.
Since then, the last 15 matches between the two sides have resulted in four draws and 11 Everton victories.
The Boxing Day meeting between the clubs ended in a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light, and they are currently locked together on equal points in the Premier League table.
Nevertheless, if Sunderland replicate their performance from this weekend they should have a decent chance of securing an FA Cup semi-final place at Wembley.
The Black Cats were always too strong for an Arsenal side that now look certain to miss out on silverware for the seventh season in a row, with Kieran Richardson breaking the deadlock shortly before half-time and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's own goal doubling their lead with 13 minutes left.
They are in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004, when they went on to lose to Millwall in the last four, but with characteristic under-statement, their manager, Martin O'Neill, is refusing to get too carried away.
“There are still going to be eight teams left, and we are just one of them,” said O'Neill, who has now guided Sunderland to ten wins in 15 matches since replacing Steve Bruce at the start of December. “It's still too early to get ahead of ourselves.
“I'm genuinely delighted for the players and the supporters that we are where we are. I thought the fans were terrific and made a huge amount of noise.
“I'm absolutely delighted for everyone concerned at the football club, but particularly the players because they've been excellent. There's plenty of confidence and self-belief about the team. They feel as if they can win matches, and that's great.”
But can they win their first piece of major silverware in almost 40 years? Prior to the fourth-round games against Middlesbrough, O'Neill counselled against betting £10 on Sunderland to win the trophy. His stance has subsequently softened - but only slightly.
“I'd still recommend against the bet,” said O'Neill. “A fiver? Maybe a couple of quid...each way.”
Be that as it may, Sunderland cemented their status as one of the most in-form teams in the Premier League with another impressive display on Saturday night.
Their team ethic shone through loud and clear, with each and every player giving their all to neuter an Arsenal side who had won a league game on Wearside seven days earlier.
Defensively, Michael Turner and John O'Shea were rock solid, while in attack, Stephane Sessegnon ran himself into the ground and was ably supported by Craig Gardner, Seb Larsson and James McClean.
It was in the midfield engine room where the game was ultimately decided though, with skipper Lee Cattermole producing an eye-catching display as he returned following a five-game injury absence.
“Lee is a very fine leader and a really good player,” said O'Neill. “He is going to have a really big part to play in the next three months. I thought we needed some real strength in there and he provided that.
“I think the week's rest helped us. We had lots of energy and, if anything, were getting stronger the longer the game went on. In the last 15 minutes last week, I felt we were really tired, but the advantage swung our way this week.”
Sunderland's FA Cup progress means the league game at Blackburn that was initially scheduled for March 17 will have to be rearranged.