Jack Rodwell leads Everton to next round of FA Cup

Showing confidence in the clubs side, David Moyes' added teens Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling into the Toffees lineup today against Aston Villa. The move that many pundits question paid off as the seventeen year old Rodwell opened the scoring early as Everton won 3-1 and advance to the final eight in the FA Cup.

At the third minute of the match Mikel Arteta's corner was head towards the goal by Timmy Cahill but long time Celtic man Stiliyan Petrov cleared it off the line. Poaching on the opportunity, seventeen year old Jack Rodwell crashed in for his goal for the Toffees. However the Villa was even only five minutes later when James Milner scored from the spot after Tony Hibbert was adjudged of bringing down Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box. The action continued at a fast pace and seven minutes before the half hour a penalty was called after Victor Anichebe was hauled down by Steve Sidwell. Mikel Arteta made no mistake with the strike sending it to the low left-hand corner and Everton had the lead for good. After a few squandered attempts Villa came close to leveling just past the hour mark but an outstretched Tim Howard pushed John Carew's flick of a James Milner cross. Following a number of spirited challenges Everton took the two goal margin with fourteen minutes remaining on an uncharacteristic Villa defensive blunder when Victor Anichebe cross found an unmarked Timmy Cahill in close range for a clinical finish. For the balance of the match Everton confidently defended and closed out the 3-1 victory.

David Moyes said after the match:

"What they have showed me is that they can come in and play. They were playing against a really good Aston Villa team with good players.

"I thought Jack Rodwell at times was exceptional. He took his goal well, but his overall performance got better as the game went on. Dan has had a couple of games in the first team and not let anyone down.

"I thought Victor played really well, like he did against Liverpool at Anfield a few weeks ago.

"I thought he was always a handful and now he has to show he can do it consistently, week in, week out.

"He was a goal threat and he earned us a penalty kick. If he keeps doing that he will help the squad.

"I think Tim (Cahill) was as good as anyone today," he said. "The way he lead the line, competed for everything and tried to win his own individual battles and put them under pressure.

"He had the header which lead to the first goal and he scored the third one.

"I have got to say we had manful help from our goalkeeper who made an outstanding save today," he continued, alluding to Howard's performance following an injury sustained whilst on international duty.

"He'd passed a fitness test which in truth he shouldn't have done, having had a terrible injury from the game against Mexico in the week."