FA Cup win can save our season, says Phil Neville

Phil Neville believes Everton's FA Cup win over Chelsea can give them the boost they need to rescue their season.

Neville struck the winner in a penalty shoot-out after Saturday's fourth-round replay ended 1-1 after extra-time.

"This could be the springboard for us," said Neville, whose side are fighting for their Premier League survival.

"We've set the standard today and we must not drop below that. There is still plenty to play for in the league if we pull our socks up."

Everton are 13th in the table and only three points above the relegation zone.

And it looked as if their season was getting worse as they appeared to be heading out of the FA Cup when Frank Lampard put Chelsea ahead in the first half of extra time and the Toffees still trailed with only two minutes remaining.

But Leighton Baines curled a free-kick into the top corner with 75 seconds remaining, and although the left-back failed to convert Everton's first penalty in the ensuing shoot-out, misses from Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole allowed Neville to step up and fire home the decisive kick.

"I knew I was going to score, I knew where the ball was going to go - and that's half the battle," said Neville.

"We've been practising [penalties] all week. The manager just told us to hit them as hard as possible.

"My biggest worry is that there was a big divot in the penalty spot. [Chelsea keeper] Petr Cech looks really big, but luckily he dived the wrong way.

Chelsea were attempting to become the first club to win the competition three times in succession since Blackburn completed the feat in 1886.

But Everton, who were held 1-1 by Carlo Ancelotti's side in the original tie at Goodison Park last month, had not lost to the Blues since the 2009 FA Cup final, and Neville felt the win was merited overall.

He added: "Out of the two ties with Chelsea, I think we just deserved to go through."

Everton will play Reading in the last 16 at Goodison Park on Tuesday, 1 March.