Cahill: I was due a goal

Everton’s Tim Cahill admits he was ‘due a goal’ after netting just his second of the season in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the FA Cup.

Cahill, 32, had only scored once this season, in a 1-1 league draw with Blackburn, before Saturday’s game where he put in an improved performance which won praise from assistant manager Steve Round.

The Socceroo’s goal came on 24 minutes when Nikica Jelavic glanced Leighton Baines’ left-wing cross goalward, with Cahill instinctively re-directing it past Sunderland keeper Simon Mignolet.

Speaking on the club’s website after the game, Cahill said: “I suppose I was due a goal. I was already in mid-air.”

“As soon as (Nikica) Jelavic touched it, I had to adjust and it hit the back of the net. All season I’ve been trying to get myself in the right positions.”

Cahill, who previously made the FA Cup final with Millwall, added: “But this cup means so much to me, and also to the fans. I really wanted more to go in and hopefully go on and win.”

The two sides are now set for a replay where the winner will play Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Cahill continued: “I’ve been involved in so many big games. We’ve just got to make sure we don’t hide. We really need to put everything into it.”

“We went 1-0 down so you’ve got to look at it as we’ve got another bite at the cherry. We were just short of doing the job. The thing is we’ve got a massive chance to really do something special with this football club.”