O'Neill fired-up for Everton clash as Sunderland look to avenge FA Cup heartache PUBLISHED: 16:48 GMT, 8 April 2012 Martin O'Neill leads his Sunderland side back to Goodison Park for the second time in a month on Easter Monday admitting their FA Cup heartache still weighs on his mind. The Black Cats claimed a 1-1 draw on Merseyside before losing the replay at the Stadium of Light two weeks ago and missing out on a place in the last four. But O'Neill's men will approach the game in confident mood after taking another point off a side chasing a Champions League place in a goalless draw against Tottenham on Saturday. On a mission: O'Neill wants his Sunderland side to beat Everton after losing the FA Cup quarter-final to them O'Neill said: 'We will travel back to Goodison Park hoping to play as strongly as we did there a few weeks ago, but possibly with a tinge of regret. 'We will have to play very strongly to get something from the game. We played very well there in the FA Cup although we were disappointed to lose at home in the replay.' O'Neill will be forced to make changes after the tough draw with Harry Redknapp's men, with striker Nicklas Bendtner the manager's main concern. Bendtner is nursing a sore back while captain Lee Cattermole and defender Phil Bardsley were forced to limp off late on and will both face late tests. O'Neill said: 'We will have to see how Bardsley and Cattermole are. Bendtner is feeling sore too. We don't have much time to turn it around but we'll see. 'Two games in three days places demands on the players, so fingers crossed that we come out of it in reasonable health.' O'Neill was pleased with his side's performance against Spurs, despite admitting it failed to reach the heights of their 3-3 draw with Manchester City the previous week. Changes: Sunderland boss O'Neill has injury concerns over some of his key players Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon had half-chances but the hosts were mainly concerned with stopping Spurs' fleet-footed wide men, with Jack Colback in particular impressing at full-back. It is the performances of the likes of Colback - a natural midfielder - and rising star James McClean which are giving O'Neill plenty of encouragement at the tail-end of the campaign. O'Neill told the club's official website: 'I've had to make changes in the past three months and players playing out of position have risen to the challenge and done exceptionally well. 'We have made good progress, taking two points from sides positioned second and fourth in the league. From that point of view I have some satisfaction in not being beaten.' The way we are playing now i honestly belie we can pull something off in this game.
