Pre-match
The major news in the build-up is that Robinho is fit to take his place in a starting XI that shows three changes from last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Fulham.
The Brazilian is joined in the team by his fellow countryman Elano and Micah Richards is also fit enough to take on Everton. Tal Ben-Haim, Didi Hamann and Darius Vassell are the players to miss out, all three have to settle for a place on the bench.
For the visitors a striker injury crisis means that midfielder Tim Cahill is expected to play as a lone frontman.
The match
With three former Evertonians involved in the game (Richard Dunne, Michael Ball and Mark Hughes) added to the Manchester v Liverpool cross city mix, the game kicked off to a lively atmosphere.
And six minutes in Leon Osman almost gave those who had travelled along the East Lancs Road more to shout about but his effort was pulled wide of Hart’s left hand post.
City fans quickly leapt on the opportunity to join in with their now customary mocking ‘goal’ celebration.
The City support were mocking again...but after a sigh or two of relief...as Arteta’s 20-yard free-kick slapped the crossbar and Fellaini’s headed follow-up clipped the top of the bar on the way over.
The Blues had their first real opening on 13 minutes as Elano strolled forward from midfield, played a neat one-two with Robinho before finding Benjani, who set up Stephen Ireland but his shot from the edge of the box was too high to trouble Tim Howard.
A minute later it was Robinho who brought the best out of Howard in the Everton goal as Benjani found him inside the box. The Brazilian turned and quickly got his shot off but at full stretch Howard clawed it away.
On 20 minutes Everton manager David Moyes was incensed as Osman appealed for penalty after claiming Ball had hauled him down off the ball.
City then replied with an Elano blast from distance that stung the palms of Howard as 25 minutes in the game had offered more than many in the stands thought might have been the case.
Everton’s main flair player, Arteta, then hit a rocket shot which surprised Hart - although the big keeper did well to get in the way of it and turn it away.
A slight lull in the game followed, but four minutes before the break Shaun Wright-Phillips left Howard’s bar reverberating after a trademark shot that had left the American keeper standing.
In a cup tie ending to the half, Fellaini could have scored twice, firstly he was inches away from connecting to a left wing cross then as play was kept alive the Belgian’s low shot was well kept out by Hart with a fine save.
HALF TIME: City 0-0 Everton
City made the one half time change with Jo replacing Benjani - no word as to whether it was due to injury or not - but the Brazilian had been warming up in readiness for his arrival during the first half.
Chances were at a premium during the opening stages of the second half and the Manchester Blues had Pablo Zabaleta to thank on 58 minutes for keeping the score at 0-0 after making a vital headed clearance from Phil Neville’s dangerous right wing cross.
Tim Cahill was waiting to nod in as Richards and Fellaini both missed the cross but the former Espanyol full back did enough to flick the ball out for a corner.
Wright-Phillips threatened again on 64 minutes as he led Lescott on a merry dance down the right before his low cross was scrambled over for a City corner.
On 72 minutes Jo won the header from Hart’s long clearance and set up the marauding Ireland who placed his shot low, looking for the corner of the net, but Howard was again equal to the City attack.
Mark Hughes made his second change with eight minutes left as Robinho was replaced by Darius Vassell as City looked to break down a stubborn Everton side.
Jo did well to win a header from SWP’s corner on 86 minutes but it lacked direction and flew over. That chance pretty much summed up City on the day and Everton held on to the point they had come for.
But they managed even better than that as right on cue Tim Cahill beat Richards in the air to head home an injury time corner and steal all three points for the Merseyside Blues.
FULL TIME: City 0-1 Everton
