FA Cup wrap: Spurs, Everton progress

Tottenham and Everton both won through to the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

Spurs won 1-0 at Watford thanks to Rafael van der Vaart’s first-half while Everton deservedly came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Goodison Park.

Harry Redknapp’s men failed to inspire at Vicarage Road as the Championship side threatened an upset on numerous occasions but were constantly denied by a solid Carlo Cudicini.

Van der Vaart’s goal three minutes before half-time came against the run of play as Watford, while creating a plethora of chances, failed to find the cutting edge in the final third.

Jermain Defoe finally registered Spurs’ first shot on target after 30 minutes, but the striker, who found it difficult to get into the contest, hit is shot into the ground which made the save routine for Scott Loach.

Spurs gradually established longer spells of possession and they were rewarded by Van der Vaart’s fortuitous strike. The midfielder was handed too much room 20 yards from goal but his tame effort eluded Loach.

Early in the second half, Spurs centre-backs Michael Dawson and Stan Livermore got in a muddle in their own box, ultimately gifting possession to a wide-open Sean Murray.

The composed 18-year-old curled around Cudicini but his shot struck the post.

The inspired home side and their boisterous support deserved an equaliser but Tottenham had all hands at the pumps at the back.

Watford had two more brilliant chances with just over ten minutes remaining. Mark Yeates sent in a long free-kick which bundled around the area.

Meanwhile, Everton deservedly came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1.

Danny Murphy’s early penalty gave the visitors a perfect start, but David Moyes’ men fought back through goals from rare-starter Denis Stracqualursi and Marouane Fellaini.

Following a subdued opening, the game sprang into life in the 12th minute when the visitors were awarded a blatant spot-kick after Jonny Heitinga slid in and blocked Clint Dempsey’s goal-bound shot with his hand.

Referee Howard Webb immediately pointed to the spot and Murphy, who had not missed in 11 attempts, sent Tim Howard the wrong way.

This woke the hosts up and Landon Donovan’s inviting cross was seized upon by Argentine striker Stracqualursi, who made no mistake to clinically head home and open his account for the club on 27 minutes.

US striker Clint Dempsey had a decent opportunity to put Fulham back into the lead minutes into the second period when he latched onto Ruiz’s incisive cross, but he blazed his header over.

David Moyes introduced Royston Drenthe for Magaye Gueye, which sparked a change in fortune for his side.

The turnaround was completed when Donovan demonstrated more technical quality by delivering a pin-point cross for Fellaini, who towered above the Fulham defence to head into the far corner past an outstretched David Stockdale.