DELIGHTED David Moyes revealed a half-time rocket from Steve Round helped propel Everton to an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Manchester United.

The Goodison Park outfit had fallen behind to David Wheater’s 44th-minute header in yesterday’s quarter-final tie at home to Middlesbrough.

However, Everton turned the game around after half-time with goals from Marouane Fellaini and substitute Louis Saha earning a place in the last four for the first time since 1995.

And Moyes admitted a few harsh words from assistant manager Round roused the players into a response after a disappointing first-half performance.

"Steve Round did a great job on the players at half-time," said Moyes.

"We just needed them livening up. We understand we haven’t been where we have been in the last few weeks but that was the furthest away we have ever been.

"It was a matter of who could get to the dressing room first at half-time and it was Steve Round. The basic principles we thought we’ve installed in the players were not there.

"The way we played in the first half was not the way we play. The players needed reorganising but they also needed a swift charger.