Mersey beat for local lad Dann

SCOTT DANN returned to his home city to remind both Everton and Liverpool just what they missed out on.

The Birmingham central defender played a key role in the impressive FA Cup fourth-round victory at Everton, as the midlanders stretched their remarkable unbeaten run to 15 matches.

Dann, 23, was missed by both Everton and Liverpool as a youngster and ended up playing Sunday league football before being given a chance as a professional at Walsall.

Birmingham’s 2-1 win at Goodison Park was fully deserved, and built on a rock-like defence as Alex McLeish’s side withstood a second-half barrage to reach the fifth round.

Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson scored excellent first-half goals against last season’s runners-up, and despite Leon Osman’s second-period strike, Everton could not save themselves.

Said Dann: “It was nice to do well in front of Everton fans, particularly because I am from just around the corner. And we are delighted with the result. Goodison Park is always a tough place to play, and even at 2-0 up we knew they were going to throw everything at us. At the break they would have had a kick up the backside, and we knew they would come straight at us, and it was an onslaught, but we managed to hang on.

“Our plan was to get out of the blocks very quickly because we knew Everton would be on a high after beating Manchester City in their previous match. We needed to get in front quickly, and a second goal just before half-time really gave us a chance and settled us down.”

Of his own failure to make the grade in his home city, Dann said: “I was not picked up by either local club, Everton or Liverpool, when I was younger. It meant that I went to Walsall and then Coventry before the move to Birmingham.

“I have had to work my way up the divisions, and that has given me a lot of experience and matches.

“It has been a good grounding, and now I have reached the Premier League I feel I can handle things because of the way I have had to progress in the game.”

EVERTON: Howard, Neville, Distin, Heitinga, Baines, Pienaar, Cahill, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov (Osman 46), Donovan (Arteta 76), Saha (Vaughan 69).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Coleman, Duffy, Baxter.

BIRMINGHAM: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, Fahey, McFadden (McSheffrey 89), Benitez (Jervis 79).

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Marcos Madera, Queudrue, Damien Johnson, Vignal.

Referee: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire).