Although the game was not being played at a scintillating tempo, it was by this stage more than competitive enough to entertain the near capacity crowd.

Saha’s second meaningful strike on goal had Schwarzer at full stretch to force a corner after Steven Pienaar had played him in.

The South African, relatively subdued for the majority of the half, would come alive just before the break to help fire Everton ahead as he slipped in Leon Osman who rounded Schwarzer before firing in from a tight angle.

The lead was nearly doubled early in the second half as Saha rose highest to force Schwarzer into a smart save low down to his right. Fulham would respond with superior possession but little in the way of chances.

John Pantsil dragged one wide from 18 yards as the home side came unstuck against the Everton back four, as so many have done this season.

And with the foundations once again laid down by Howard and co the forwards were allowed to flourish, Osman’s second of the match was a peach of a goal, curled with precision and class into the far corner.

While the Everton supporters were toasting the club’s win and the success of this season, Sunday afternoon demonstrated once more that the future looks bright for Jack Rodwell after putting in one of those ‘coming of age’ peformances.

No longer a Finch Farm secret, Rodwell will have won himself new admirers with a display of maturity and calm in the centre of Everton’s midfield – he looked the most accomplished player on the field for most of the day.

Likewise, Saha was sharp and could be finding his return to form at just the right time.

Perhaps though, and not discounting the acheivement of finishing fifth and reaching the Wembley showpiece, the most telling statistic is that of Howard’s 17 clean sheets.

People marvelled at Edwin Van Der Sar’s epic run without conceding a goal, but Howard’s new record has been equally as pivotal in Everton’s run – many Evertonian’s would no doubt agree and raise a glass in his direction.

All back to the Eight Bells it is then to whet the whistle.