Just thrown in the main talking points from todays Echo... Seems the Sunderland lads sound more positive than the Everton lad.. PHIL Jagielka admits that Evertonâs Merseyside derby defeat has piled the pressure on Saturdayâs clash with Sunderland. Evertonâs nine-game unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Anfield on Tuesday night as the Toffees succumbed to a 3-0 defeat to neighbours Liverpool. Boss David Moyes rested six first-team regulars after opting to prioritise the FA Cup as he looks to secure the first trophy of his 10-year reign. But the criticism stemming from the changes and the manner of the defeat has put the spotlight on this weekendâs quarter-final, with England defender Jagielka aware of the need to respond against Sunderland. Jagielka said: âThe boys have been doing really well and hopefully we can continue the decent cup run we have had. After Tuesdayâs result, it puts a little bit more pressure on the cup because 3-0 is not good enough. âIt is a big game for us. Hopefully a good result on Saturday can cheer the fans up.â Jagielka made his first start since January 4 against Liverpool after two months on the sidelines with a knee injury. ................................................................................ SIMON Mignolet believes the FA Cup provides Sunderland with a better opportunity to end their Goodison Park curse than if they were heading to Merseyside in the Premier League. Everton have held the Midas touch over Sunderland during David Moyesâ 10-year reign, with the Toffees boss yet to suffer defeat against the Black Cats. Sunderland have lost eight of their last 10 visits to Goodison, not winning there since triumphing via a penalty shoot-out in the final 16 of the League Cup in November 1998. But Belgian goalkeeper Mignolet says the unpredictable nature of the cup can act in Sunderlandâs favour as they attempt to reach the semi-finals of the competition this weekend. Mignolet told the Echo: âItâs a big cup game and Everton are a good side, who got a great result against Tottenham last weekend. âTheyâve got some really good players, people like Marouane Fellaini, who I play with in the national team. Heâs dangerous in the box, a good header of the ball and heâs very strong, so weâll have to be on our guard against him. âWe donât have a great record against Everton recently, but, in a cup game, anything can happen. Hopefully we can put it right. âNormally, a record like that might be something you think about when itâs a Premier League game. âBut, in the FA Cup, itâs a totally different atmosphere so hopefully that will help us.â ........................................................................... SEB LARSSON hopes itâs third time lucky in the FA Cup after being knocked out at the quarter-final stage in the last two years. The Sunderland midfielder reached the final eight of the competition with Birmingham in 2010 and 2011 before the Blues crashed out against Portsmouth and Bolton respectively. Larsson is looking for better against Everton on Saturday as Sunderland attempt to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2004. âIâll have been in the quarter-finals three years running and Iâd just like to go one step further and get to Wembley with a win,â said Larsson, who was part of the Birmingham team that won at Goodison Park in the fourth round in 2010. âLast year with Birmingham, we didnât really have the squad to cope, so we couldnât really put out the strongest possible team and we were punished on the day. âBut weâve got a good squad here with people able to perform. âItâs a one-off game, a cup game and if we put in a good performance weâre in with a shout. I think itâs an evenly matched tie. âWe know weâre more than capable of getting a good result, but we know you need to perform well or you donât get anything at Goodison Park.â
sometimes in the cup when a team meet someone from the league as themselves the result is totally different. Us against Arsenal for example
