Carlisle United vs Everton. The FA Cup Fourth Round.
Brunton ParkAttendance17,101.
Sunday 31 January 2016 13:33, UK
Everton captain Phil Jagielka hopes the FA Cup can make the club's season after heartbreak in the League Cup semi-final at the hands of Manchester City.
Everton have struggled for consistency in the Premier League this campaign and are currently 12th in the table after 23 games, having failed to win their last five league games.
Roberto Martinez's side head to fourth-tier side Carlisle United on Sunday for a fourth-round FA Cup tie and Jagielka said they need to give the supporters something to cheer about after their latest setback.
"We have another cup game at the weekend and so we have got to try and put some sort of run together to give them something to get their teeth into for the remainder of the season," he said.
"It is important that we get our heads up. The role of all of the senior people around the dressing room is to get everyone back up, it's another decent distance for them to go. I wouldn't say the FA Cup can save the season but it can make the season.
"Things aren't going so well in the league so a good run in the FA Cup can make things a lot happier, similar to what the League Cup has done but there is only one way to do and it's going to Carlisle and getting a good result."
Everton, who have not won any silverware since lifting the FA Cup in 1995, will hand a late fitness test to forward Kevin Mirallas, with the Belgium international suffering with a tendon injury.
Midfielder Muhamed Besic also missed the club's midweek Capital One Cup semi-final exit at City and will not be ready for this weekend.
Joel Robles, though, keeps his place in goal, as has been the case for cup matches.
Carlisle boss Keith Curle, meanwhile, believes his side - who are currently sitting in 11th place in League Two - are more than capable of causing an upset at Brunton Park on Sunday lunch time.
"People say we play Everton at the weekend and that's where the journey ends, but I don't think that's the case at all," he said.
"I see this as a chance for us to make more friends, and potentially more money, by putting in as good a performance as possible.
"I know I have good players in that dressing room, so the journey could well extend beyond Sunday.
"It's a game we can all look forward to and we want to make sure we know as much as we can about them so we can cause them some problems."
Merson's prediction
This is a big game for Roberto Martinez. They can't afford to lose it. If they don't win then the pressure would really be on the manager because they are a good team in the middle of nowhere.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)
Opta Stats
Everton have progressed in their last eight FA Cup ties against lower league opposition, scoring 26 goals in the process and conceding just five.
These sides have met three times in the FA Cup in the past, with Everton winning on each occasion (1930, 1968 and 2010).
Indeed, the Cumbrians have won just one of their last 14 FA Cup ties against top-flight opposition, beating QPR 1-0 in January 1986 (D2 L11).
The Toffees have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup in four of the previous five seasons.
Romelu Lukaku has scored in all three of his FA Cup appearances for Everton.
Betting
Carlisle are 11/2 with Sky Bet to upset Everton (4/9) with the draw an 18/5 shot. The Sky Bet League 2 side have drawn their last four on the bounce, while Everton are without a win in their last four.
The Toffees came out on top when these two last met, winning 3-1 in the FA Cup in 2010, Sky Bet offer 9/1 for a repeat of that scoreline.
Check out tips from our Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Charlie Nicholas, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier here.
