Toffees are hungry for cup success

Everton 3 Oldham Athletic 1

The Toffees ended Oldham’s memorable run as Baines’ penalty was sandwiched between goals from Kevin Mirallas and Leon Osman to set up a quarter-final against Wigan.

Baines said last night: “We’ve been close a couple of times and that whets your appetite. We want to go further but we’ve got a tough tie next.”

Oldham appeared unlucky not to have a penalty themselves as Phil Jagielka’s clearance struck Darron Gibson’s hand. Baines added: “We’ll take our bit of luck, you need it to get through in the cup.”

The Latics raced into the lead during their 3-2 triumph over Liverpool in round four and against David Moyes’ men in a dramatic 2-2 draw 10 days ago. But despite the absence of injured talisman Marouane Fellaini, Moyes’ men began firmly on the front foot. last night and Kevin Mirallas, preferred in attack to Steven Naismith, got the breakthrough when he converted Gibson’s excellent 15th-minute cross.

Jose Baxter, who still holds the distinction of being Everton’s youngest senior player and was granted a warm reception on his return to Merseyside, almost pulled Oldham level through a sumptuous lob that struck the post.

It was a rare moment of first-half encouragement for the visitors and Leighton Baines’ 34th-minute penalty made it 2-0 after Connor Brown handled. Osman put the Toffees three ahead midway through the second half before Matt Smith scored a consolation for the Latics.

EVERTON: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, Mirallas (Naismith 84), Neville, Gibson, Pienaar (Hitzlsperger 89), Osman, Jelavic.

OLDHAM: Bouzanis, Brown (Wesolowski 76), Mvoto, Tarkowski, Grounds, Croft, Furman, Baxter, Obita (Simpson 55), Iwelumo (Smith 55), Barnard.

Ref: Michael Oliver.