THE last time Everton secured a memorable victory over Chelsea, they were dumped out of the FA Cup by lower-league opposition just a few days later.

Now David Moyes must negotiate a similar hurdle with npower Championship mavericks Blackpool homing into view.

That nobody was overly surprised by last weekend’s Goodison triumph over the Londoners speaks volumes, not only for Everton’s upturn in form, but also the troubles afflicting Stamford Bridge.

Moyes’s men were full value for their win although, remarkably, with his match-clinching second goal Denis Stracqualursi became the first Everton striker to start a Premier League game and score this season.

The emergence of Stracqualursi, renaissance of Victor Anichebe and arrival of Nikica Jelavic have significantly eased Moyes’s oft-mentioned striking woes.

But with Steven Pienaar cup-tied this Saturday, the Goodison manager will have to once more look elsewhere for craft from midfield.

The tie represents a golden opportunity for Everton to continue salvaging a season that at one point seemed to be heading for a second half of drudgery and mild relegation concern.

Certainly, victory over Blackpool would bring Wembley homing into view.

Whispers of European qualification are again being heard around Finch Farm but, for Moyes, the challenge now is to ensure the revival is of long-term benefit.

Landon Donovan’s loan deal is coming to an end, but of greater importance will be conjuring the funds to make permanent Pienaar’s switch from Tottenham Hotspur.

The spring is back in the step at Everton.

The challenge now is to keep the place bouncing.