MAROUANE FELLAINI told his team-mates he would score against Fulham – and then went on to fire Everton FC a step nearer to Wembley.

Fellaini’s towering header 17 minutes from time earned David Moyes’s side a hard-fought 2-1 win against the Cottagers at Goodison in their FA Cup fourth round tie.

Danny Murphy had given the visitors an early lead with a controversial penalty only for Everton to fight back before the break through Denis Stracqualursi’s first goal for the club.

And Everton assistant manager Steve Round revealed Fellaini, who raced to the home dugout to celebrate, had promised to find the target after a succession of near misses in recent weeks.

“Felli has had a bit of stick lately because he has had quite a few chances that haven’t gone in,” said Round.

“They have been cleared off the line, he has had headers and goalkeepers have made great saves.

“He said beforehand that he was definitely going to score today so I think he was proving a point.”

Fellaini secured Everton’s first-ever triumph over Fulham in the FA Cup, with Moyes’s side scoring twice in one game for only the second time in 12 outings.

And Round added: “Our form at home hasn’t been great recently, but we showed character to come from a goal behind, which was a little bit against the run of play.

“The cup run definitely gives us confidence. The manager said to the team before the game that Everton have a great history in this competition, and that when you represent Everton, the cups are extremely important.

“We went to Wembley in the final three years ago and it was a great experience. Obviously you want to go one better and win it but it’s not easy now there are some very strong teams left in it.

“You need a bit of fortune but if we get a home draw when we are quietly confident we can beat anyone at Goodison.”

John Heitinga was adjudged by referee Howard Webb to have deliberately blocked Damien Duff’s shot with his arm for Fulham’s penalty, a call Round thought was harsh.