Everton secured their place in round six of the FA Cup by seeing off fellow Premier League side Bournemouth 2-0 at the Vitality Stadium.
The Cherries missed the chance to make a breakthrough somewhat against the run of play when Charlie Daniels had his penalty attempt kept out by Joel Robles in the first half.
That proved costly as Ross Barkley, via the aid of a deflection, and Romelu Lukaku found a way through after the restart to book a quarter-final place for the visitors.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded on the South Coast with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the FA Cup fifth-round tie between Bournemouth and Everton at the Vitality Stadium. Seven points separate these two sides in the Premier League, but this evening's clash is all about earning a place in the last eight of the world's most famous domestic cup competition.
The Toffees know that they need to progress in order to keep their season alive heading into the final months, on the back of what has largely been a disappointing league campaign to date, while for the hosts this represents a chance to reach uncharted territory less than 12 months on from reaching the big time of the Premier League. The top flight certainly takes a back seat this weekend, with this one of the standout ties.
TEAM NEWS!
BOURNEMOUTH XI: Federici, Francis, Elphick, Distin, Daniels, Iturbe, O'Kane, MacDonald, Gosling, Stanislas, King
EVERTON XI: Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Oviedo, Barry, McCarthy, Cleverley, Barkley, Lennon, Lukaku
Starting with a look at the home team, then, and boss Eddie Howe has decided to ring the changes for this evening's fifth-round tie. Rather disappointingly, seven changes have been made to the starting lineup on the back of last weekend's home defeat to Stoke City. Sylvain Distin and Dan Gosling are among those to be named in the matchday XI.
Skipper Tommy Elphick is also among those handed a start this evening, coming into the side for the first time since victory over Portsmouth in round four. The centre-back was a major fitness doubt in the days leading up to today's game, but he is clearly fit enough to partner Distin in the heart of defence. Elsewhere, Juan Iturbe is handed just his second start for the Cherries, while Eunan O'Kane and Shaun MacDonald also return to the fold.
It is not all that surprising to see Howe chop and change things, in truth, having done likewise in both previous rounds in this competition. Plenty of discussion to be hard regarding whether that is the correct decision or not, but the young boss did admit earlier this week that he is not entirely happy with his side's currently placing in the Premier League, thus making a push up the division the priority at this stage.
In stark contrast to Bournemouth, the visitors have gone with an unchanged side for this all-Premier League affair on the South Coast. The same XI that started last weekend's disappointing defeat to West Bromwich Albion are given a chance to make amends, with the Toffees' attention now firmly fixed on domestic success this term following a fairly bland set of results in the Premier League since the turn of the year.
Roberto Martinez revealed on Thursday that Joel Robles would start between the sticks once again, as he continues to oust Tim Howard in the battle to be crowned long-term number one. There is a familiar feel to the defence, too, with Seamus Coleman, Bryan Oviedo, Ramiro Funes Mori and captain Phil Jagielka all taking their place in the starting lineup. Romelu Lukaku will lead the line, aiming to build on what has been another prolific campaign in front of goal thus far.
BENCH WATCH!
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Boruc, Wiggins, Smith, Butcher, Pugh, Ritchie, Murray
EVERTON SUBS: Howard, Baines, Stones, Mirallas, Niasse, Deulofeu, Osman
The big news for Everton is that John Stones is back among their subs following his recent layoff with a hamstring injury. January arrival Oumar Niasse has been struggling with a wrist problem, but he is also among the back-up options this evening and therefore in contention to make his club debut at some stage. Kevin Mirallas and Gerard Deulofeu provide further attacking threat from the bench.
In terms of the hosts, they have plenty of familiar faces among their substitutes, including both Glenn Murray and Matt Ritchie who could be called upon at some stage. Artur Boruc has been a regular in the Premier League for the Cherries this term, but Adam Federici - a player who will want to forget his howler at the semi-final stage of this competition last year - is called upon once more in the cup.
Roberto Martinez has named an unchanged Everton side for this evening's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Bournemouth, meaning a chance for Romelu Lukaku to bag his 21st goal of the season for club and country. The Belgian forward has just one in his last seven appearances, though, so he will need to find his scoring boots against a Cherries side showing seven changes from last time out.
So Eddie Howe making it quite clear with his much-changed side that the Premier League still takes priority this season. Not that surprising, of course, but with a real chance of reaching the final eight of the competition this surely should have been seen as an incentive for the Cherries to build some momentum. The South Coast club have won four of their nine fixtures this calendar year, leaving them four points above the Premier League drop zone.
Howe's men picked up a big win away at Crystal Palace recently, but back-to-back defeats against Stoke City and Arsenal on home soil in recent weeks has left them looking over their shoulders once more. Huge credit must be given to the Cherries for the way in which they have gone about their business this term, yet there is still a long way to go before a second campaign of Premier League football can be secured at the Vitality Stadium.
Three defeats in their last four here, with at least two goals conceded in each, has certainly not helped the cause. But the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction as attention turns towards the final few months of this incredible season. Victories over Birmingham City and Portsmouth in the last two rounds, games in which Bournemouth trailed in at one point, has opened the door for this rare cup run.
DID YOU KNOW? I say a "rare cup run" because this is the first time the Cherries have reached this stage of the famous competition in 27 years, and just the fourth time in their 126-year existence. The last time they made it to round five, a defeat 1-0 to Manchester United in an Old Trafford replay proved to be their undoing in 1989.
This is actually Bournemouth's first home cup tie in eight outings, having regularly been pulled out of the hat as the visiting side. A real chance for the Cherries to get supporters excited, then, with the final eight of the competition just one win away now. Another big Premier League tie - this time away at Watford - is right on the horizon, but for now all attention is on prolonging this cup run by another month or so.
It certainly will not be easy for the Cherries, though, particularly against an Everton side themselves desperate to progress into the quarters. Five victories from their 11 fixtures this calendar year has left the Toffees at a crossroads as such, with their hopes of a top-five league finish in tatters and their League Cup run also recently coming to a halt against Manchester City.
Six points is the gap on the top five in the Premier League now, which is certainly not too big a margin to make up with 12 games of the season still left to play. Many sides need to slip up if the Toffees are to end the league campaign on a high, however, so this is realistically Martinez's best chance of earning success at Goodison Park this term. An unchanged side suggests as much, too, with the Merseyside outfit really going for it this evening.
Following their League Cup exit to Man City last month, Everton went on a promising run of three successive 3-0 wins in league and cup. A costly 1-0 loss to West Brom last time out completely halted the momentum that had been building, though, putting even more importance on this tie at the Vitality Stadium. One defeat in their last nine on the road - coming at The Etihad - suggests that the Toffees best utilise their gameplan when on their travels, rather than at home.
In terms of their FA Cup pedigree, Everton have reached at least the quarter-final stage in three of the last four seasons. Defeat to West Ham in the third round last term did not go down well at all, but wins over Dagenham & Redbridge and Carlisle United have helped create a comfortable passage through to this stage. The Toffees are still yet to ship a goal in the competition this term, scoring five times along the way.
Bournemouth have had to battle from behind in each of their previous two FA Cup games this term to progress through to round five, while Everton have had a far more comfortable journey by seeing off lower-league opposition Dagenham & Redbridge and Carlisle United in rounds three and four.
Martinez does of course have a slight advantage over opposite number Howe in a sense that Everton have a fortnight to recover before facing off against Aston Villa in their next outing. Liverpool's progression in the League Cup has shifted the Merseyside derby back a little, so the Toffees have a winter break of sorts in what should otherwise be a fairly hectic month of the season (just ask Spurs!)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Everton won 5-0 in the only previous FA Cup meeting between these two sides, coming back in a round-five fixtures in 1957. They have faced off far more recently in the league, though, with a memorable 3-3 draw here in November arguably the most exciting fixture in the Premier League so far this season. All of Bournemouth's goals in that one were scored after the 80th minute.
The two teams face off at least once more before the season comes to a close, incidentally, with a Premier League fixture pencilled in for April 30. After that match just two games will remain in the Premier League, but where will these two sides stand at that point? Bournemouth will surely just be happy to avoid relegation, regardless of Howe wanting to push up the table, while Everton must try their best to somehow make up the gap on the division's top five.
Exactly 10 minutes to go until we get underway on the South Coast now, so let us check out the pre-match views from both camps heading into this final FA Cup tie of the day.
Eddie Howe: "We would love to progress. Only once before have we been into the quarter-finals so that would be a really big moment for the football club if we could achieve it. So I want to pick a team that can do that but also pick a team that shows we have a good squad."
Roberto Martinez: "The team is mentally ready. I think we showed so far this season what we can achieve. In the League Cup, we got into the semi-final. In the FA Cup we are in the fifth round, facing another Premier League side away from home, understanding the difficulties that brings but in the same way very much looking forward to that opportunity."
So for Howe and his Bournemouth side, this represents a chance to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition for just the second time in their history. Everton, on the other hand, who boast far more pedigree than their opponents domestically speaking, will look at this as a chance to keep hopes alive of silverware this term. It is finely set up on the South Coast, with kickoff now a little over five minutes away.
Three other fixtures have taken place in the FA Cup so far today, incidentally, providing a mixed bag of outcomes. Watford managed to battle past Championship Leeds United a little earlier to become the first side in the hat for round six, but Arsenal were held by Hull City and West Bromwich Albion were edged out by Reading. It may have lost its pedigree according to some, yet this competition still provides many a surprise result year after year.
PREDICTION! The Vitality Stadium is filling up nicely now, with anticipation building throughout the day for this all-Premier League affair. Everton have yet to concede in this competition so far this season, but I am expecting that to change this evening, albeit with the tie already safely secured. This Toffees side, on paper at least, should have too much for their opponents. 1-3.
Both sets of players are now out on the field of play; Everton sporting their white and black away strip and Bournemouth in their more traditional home colours. Eddie Howe was just 11 when the Toffees last reached this stage of the competition - can he work his magic once more to book a place in the last eight?
KICKOFF! Everton get us underway at the Vitality Stadium! These sides played out a six-goal thriller here just three months ago, remember, so let's just hope for more of the same this evening.
Everton dictating the tempo of play in these early stages, looking to get forward and ask question of the hosts' backline. They get a chance to do just that when winning a free kick high up on the left, but Cleverley gets his delivery all wrong.
SHOT! First piece of real attacking play from the visitors culminated in Lukaku threading a pass through for Barkley to latch on to. The Englishman did manage to get to the ball first, but his shot from an angle lacked any real power and ended with Federici comfortably collecting.
Bournemouth yet to really get their foot on the ball, as Lukaku is caught narrowly offside chasing down a long pass over the top. Really good pressing from the Toffees, who appear to mean business this evening. Just the one shot to show for their early efforts, though, which was easily kept out.
The home side now coming out of their shell a little more, but a couple of overhit passes ensured that their rare attacking moves came to little. Up the other end, Coleman saw two crosses in quick succession narrowly avoid a touch from Lukaku.
Everton continuing to knock the ball around with some real ease, but not really able to find a way through the Bournemouth backline. Patient play is fine at this stage, though they will have to get the ball into Lukaku's feet a little more as the game progresses.
SHOT! For all of Everton's possession in the opening 13 minutes or so, it was almost completely undone as Iturbe drove forward and got a shot away. It was a badly dragged attempt from range in the end, however, with the ball drifting well wide of Robles' goal.
Still yet to see any real clear-cut chances at the Vitality Stadium, although there is no denying that Everton have been the better side so far. These passing moves must lead to something if they have any hope of breaking down the Bournemouth defence, though, because so far it has been fairly routine for the hosts at the back.
YELLOW CARD! Cleverley swings in a fine cross from a left-sided corner, but the ball just about evades a touch from Funes Mori in the box. James McCarthy then cynically brought down Iturbe for the game's first caution.
Barry is this time the culprit when lunging in on Iturbe. The Roma loanee has so far been the game's best player, and all of a sudden momentum just appears to be swinging in the home side's favour following a fairly slow start to the contest.
Plenty of action down the Bournemouth right at the moment, largely thanks to the quality of Iturbe, but still no real chances of any note for either side. Certainly not been a dull tie in the opening quarter, yet a goal would help bring the contest to life.
Still no way through for the Cherries, but they have grown more and more into the contest after a slow start at the Vitality Stadium.
Barkley is picked out on the right-hand side and, after a moment to compose himself, he swings in a cross towards Lukaku. The Belgian had found a bit of space, but the pass was far too close to Federici who was there to collect.
SHOT! Barkley is given space to get a shot away around 25 yards out, which he was never going to turn down. Like his first effort, this attempt lacked any real pace and precision which allowed Federici to routinely save down the middle.
Stanislas runs five yards with the ball and gets a shot away unopposed but, like Iturbe before him earlier in the game, the strike ended well wide of the target. Better from Bournemouth, albeit with no end product.
CHANCE! First real opening of the match falls Everton's way, as Lukaku uses his pace to completely leave Elphick for dry. The angle was against the Belgian somewhat, but he still looked to squeeze the ball past Federici at the near post only for his attempt to be kept out. Good save from the Bournemouth stopper.
Everton just appear to be wrestling more control of the game as it goes on, with Bournemouth essentially playing as the away side and looking to quickly break. Lukaku and Barkley have both got shots away on target, but it has largely been a cagey affair so far.
Gosling works a yard of space just inside the opposition box, but Jagielka does superbly to stick out a foot and push the ball away from the Bournemouth midfielder before he can get a shot away. That is pretty much as good as things have got for the home side thus far in an attacking sense.
PENALTY TO BOURNEMOUTH! Daniels whips a cross into the box from the left for pretty much the first time in the match. Jagielka stuck out a foot to clear the ball behind for a corner, which Daniels floats in. McCarthy appeared to just stick out an arm to block the ball, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.
PENALTY SAVED! Charlie Daniels is denied by Joel Robles! The full-back looked to pick out the bottom left of the net, but the Everton stopper got across brilliantly to push the ball to one side. Bournemouth were quick to follow-up, but the effort ended in the side-netting.
No idea what McCarthy was attempting when conceding that penalty. No complaints from any Everton players, but Daniels failed to make them truly pay for the slack defending. It just goes to show - possession counts for nothing if you do not stick the ball in the back of the net.
Normal service has pretty much resumed since that misses Bournemouth penalty, as Everton take control of the game without truly troubling Federici. The Toffees will be happy enough with the way this half has panned out, minus the concession of a pen, but they need to step things up in the second half.
Barkley and Lukaku struggle to link-up in attack when springing a counter-attack - not for the first time today. This half just appears to be petering out somewhat, with the interval now just a minute or so away. No real sign of a breakthrough arriving prior to then.
The most unorthodox of headers from Oviedo, from all of 20 yards out, ends wide of the target. One minute of added time to be played at the Vitality Stadium at the end of this first half.
YELLOW CARD! Dan Gosling earns a yellow card for catching Lennon on the back of the leg with his studs. Another simple enough decision for the referee to make.
HALF TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-0 EVERTON
So it remains goalless here at the interval, much like it did in each of the day's other three FA Cup ties. It has been a decent enough contest so far, with one talking point in particular, but there is no denying that the quality has been lacking in the attacking third in the opening 45 minutes.
Everton have had by far the better of the half as a whole, yet the biggest chance fell Bournemouth's way when Charlie Daniels saw his spot kick kept out by Joel Robles. There is no denying that the penalty should have been awarded, as James McCarthy stuck out his arm to block the ball, but the hosts could not capitalise from 12 yards out.
That proved to be Bournemouth's only attempt on goal all half, while Everton got away three shots of their own. Barkley had a couple kept out by Federici in the simplest of manners, while Lukaku's near-post effort required more of an effort from the stand-in stopper to keep out. No way through for either side so far, though, in what has largely been a cagey all-Premier League affair in the FA Cup fifth round.
Could we see any changes made at the interval? I'm sure both managers are happy enough with what they have seen, but there is certainly plenty of attacking options to call upon at the interval. It wouldn't be at all surprising to see the alterations kept until the hour mark at the Vitality Stadium, though.
BOURNEMOUTH SUBS: Boruc, Wiggins, Smith, Butcher, Pugh, Ritchie, Murray
EVERTON SUBS: Howard, Baines, Stones, Mirallas, Niasse, Deulofeu, Osman
The big talking point from the first half arrived seven minutes before the interval, as Robles brilliantly kept out a Daniels penalty to keep the scoreline level. Everton have had the better of the openings overall, but that was the closest we have come to a breakthrough so far on the South Coast.
RESTART! We are back underway on the South Coast. No changes made at the break by either manager, so it is as you were in that respect.
Lukaku does brilliantly to chest the ball down into Lennon's path, but the winger's strike was deflected well behind for a corner. Coleman met the resulting set-piece, only for the ball to rise over the bar from a few yards out.
Very even start to this second half, as Bournemouth this time burst forward and win a corner thanks to Daniels' smart play. Everton successfully defend and use that to spring a counter of their own, but the move breaks down before reaching the opposition's final third.
SHOT! Oviedo gives away a free kick on the right, which is cleared only as far as MacDonald on the edge of the box. The midfielder put his foot right through the ball, but it failed to test Joel Robles between the sticks.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-1 EVERTON (ROSS BARKLEY)
Everton finally find a way through on the South Coast, and it is another Ross Barkley goal that has given them the opener. The England international took on the shot from 20 yards out, but it required a huge deflection off former Everton player Gosling to see the ball loop over Federici and into the back of the net.
Almost a quick-fire second for the Toffees, only for the flag to deny Lukaku a goal of his own. The official signalled a good few seconds before the Belgian tucked the ball home, in fairness, while replays show that the decision was correct - just!
We are approaching the time when changes are usually made, but it will take on added significance now following that Barkley belter. The onus is on Bournemouth to attack in these final 30 minutes, while Everton will no doubt look to spring the odd counter.
Bournemouth just not doing enough at the moment to ask any serious questions of Everton. They are battling away well enough, but far more is needed in the attacking third. That may be about to change, as Ritchie has stripped down and is ready to be introduced.
CLOSE! Stanislas sees his free kick deflect just inches wide of the target. Joel was left stranded, simply praying that the ball sailed the right side of the post. Time for some substitutions...
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! MacDonald leaves the field, with Ritchie on in his place. Some creativity added to the middle of the park, then, which Bournemouth have been crying out for.
YELLOW CARD! Iturbe was on the end of some lunging challenges in the first half, well one of his own leads to him being booked 66 minutes in here at the Vitality Stadium.
It is fairly comfortable for Roberto Martinez's side at the moment, as they look to build on their one-goal lead. Plenty can happen in the space of 20 minutes, though, so this cup tie is far from over.
YELLOW CARD! A third Bournemouth booking of the match, this time shown to Joshua King. The forward was unhappy with a decision that went against him and his side, kicking the ball away to enter the referee's book.
BOURNEMOUTH SUB! Iturbe has probably been the home side's best player this afternoon, but he clearly had little left in the tank. Glenn Murray is on in his place, adding some height to the Bournemouth attack.
CHANCES! What an unbelievable chance for Gosling to level things up. King's ball from the right was perfect, allowing the midfielder to glance a header on target. It was right down the middle, though, and Joel did not have to move an inch to collect the ball. Moments later, Ritchie saw his near-post shot clear the bar by a yard or so.
GOAL! BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 EVERTON (ROMELU LUKAKU)
Romelu Lukaku doubles the visitors' advantage, and surely ends Bournemouth's run in this competition in the process. Barkley should have found the net moments beforehand when left in a one-on-one position, with his effort deflecting behind for a corner. The hosts failed to clear their lines from the set piece, allowing Lukaku to fire home goal number 21 from close range.
EVERTON SUBS! Barkley has now been involved in 20 goals in all competitions this season, incidentally, which is more than any other English Premier League midfielder. He makes way for Mirallas, while Niasse replaces Lukaku one for his full debut.
Bournemouth scored three times in the final 10 minutes in the corresponding league fixtures between these two teams in November, remember, but there is no real sign of that happening again here. Everton standing firm in the closing stages.
Everton actually looking the more likely to add a third of the contest, as Mirallas bends one high into the stands. Great noise being made by the travelling supporters, who have a last-eight tie to look forward to next month.
Francis has struggled to make any sort of impact during his time on the field, and his overhit pass ends Bournemouth's latest attacking move. Five minutes, plus a few minutes of added time, left to play on the South Coast.
Barry rather sloppily gives away a free kick on the right touchline, allowing Ritchie a chance to swing a cross into the box. Niasse was in the box defending, but the ball made its way back into the box for King to glance wide.
Good play from Bournemouth, but King's return pass to Murray is pounced on by Robles five yards out. Everton will not want to give their opponents a route into this game, but they have done well to take any sting out of the game heading into the final minutes.
Four minutes to be added on at the Vitality Stadium, the first of which has passed by without any incident of note. Everton fans in full voice, as you would expect.
Bournemouth trying their best to find some late momentum on the South Coast, but there is going to be no way through I'm afraid. The Cherries have failed to truly click in the final third all evening, while Everton have done just about all that they needed to do.
FULL TIME: BOURNEMOUTH 0-2 EVERTON
Everton see out the final stages with ease to secure their place in the final eight of the FA Cup. It is the fourth time in five years that they have reached that stage, and it keeps their season alive for a little while longer yet.
Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku scored the decisive goals within the space of 20 second-half minutes, ensuring that Bournemouth's aspirations of just a second quarter-final place in their history comes to an end at the fifth-round stage. That concludes Sports Mole's live coverage from the Vitality Stadium, but be sure to stick around for plenty of reaction from another dramatic day in the FA Cup.
