Toffees ease past Villa

Jack Rodwell fired Everton into an early lead before James Milner equalised from the spot, all in the first eight minutes.

Then Mikel Arteta's penalty reclaimed the lead before the break, with Tim Cahill getting the clincher with 14 minutes left.

This tie then had a dramatic start with two goals in the first eight minutes.

Everton struck first after three minutes when 17-year-old Rodwell fired in from close range after Cahill's header from Arteta's corner had been cleared off the line by Stiliyan Petrov.

Stand-in Villa captain Petrov looked to have used his hand to block the first effort on the line, but Yorkshire referee Martin Atkinson missed the incident otherwise Petrov would have been sent off.

But five minutes later Villa were level when Tony Hibbert brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor in the box to concede a penalty. Hibbert was booked and Milner drove in the spot-kick, although it was almost stopped by Tim Howard.

The drama continued when Everton gained a penalty of their own to reclaim the lead. Victor Anichebe took a pass from Hibbert and set off on a surging run through the middle, only to brought down by Steve Sidwell, who was booked. This time it was the turn of Arteta to fire in the spot-kick.

Villa's pressure was mounting and they would have been level after 61 minutes had it not been for an outstanding save from Howard to his left. John Carew met a Milner cross and connected well with a neat flick before the USA international finger-tipped the ball away at full stretch.

But when Everton broke quickly from defence they grabbed a third after 76 minutes. Anichebe's ball into the box from the left was missed by Curtis Davies, allowing an unmarked Cahill a 10-yard finish.