Howard instils FA Cup focus

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard wants to put Tuesday’s defeat to Liverpool behind him and earn a place at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Howard’s side lost 3-0 at Anfield as Steven Gerrard netted a hat-trick on the eve of David Moyes’ 10-year anniversary in charge of the Premier League club.

Everton had gone nine games unbeaten before the defeat and Howard is keen to recapture that form in their quarter-final clash with Sunderland this weekend.

The United States international told the Daily Mirror: “It (Anfield) is never a nice place to lose, but with the anniversary and everything, it’s even more so. Ten years is a lot of results, a lot of highs and lows.”

“We had gone into the game on the back of a really good run, but unfortunately it didn’t end in the storybook way we all hoped. But this is a good team, this is a good bunch of boys, and there is definitely no problem with the character in the squad.”

“We will be up for the fight at the weekend, and it would be fantastic to get a good result to give everyone a lift after what has been a long week. It won’t be for the lack of trying.”

“Losing derbies always hurts, but we are professionals, we want to see it out, so we will get back to work and hopefully get a result.”

Howard insisted that this weekend’s game has not become any more crucial because of the Liverpool loss, and believes that the players will be motivated by the desire to finally win a trophy in Moyes’ reign.

“I don’t think the FA Cup game has any more importance because of losing the derby – the chance of going to Wembley is enough to lift everyone’s spirits,” he said.

“We all want a place in the semi-final. We will keep going, because the confidence is certainly still there. That’s because of the way we were playing before Anfield.”

“We still feel our form is good and we will count that defeat as just a blip, push on and hopefully get a good result at the weekend, which will really help to put this behind us.”