FA Cup semi final - Everton FC team celebrate _460

Ultimately when the game came down to penalties – so often Everton’s downfall in the past and of course the tie-breaker that enabled Manchester United to be crowned European champions less than a year ago, it was fitting that Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka were the heroes.

Howard, deemed not good enough at Old Trafford, saved two spot-kicks against his former team-mates while boyhood United fan Jagielka, who failed to make the grade at Goodison Park as a youngster only to return in 2007, were the heroes.

Jagielka, who missed a crucial kick against Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup last season has hardly put a foot wrong this campaign and he held his nerve to send Everton into a Wembley return with Chelsea at the end of next month.

It’s safe to say Evertonians won’t shed many tears for one boyhood blue who has long since defected down the M62 and has yet to win the FA Cup himself.

He wasn’t even in the travelling party on this occasion but knows for all the silver he might win with his new employers, just one cup with his former loves would have been worth so much more.