FA Cup

Roberto Martinez hopes for Everton turning point

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 07 January 2015

Roberto Martinez believes that Everton's fortunes could be about to change after Romelu Lukaku netted a late equaliser to deny West Ham a fourth-round FA Cup place.

Roberto Martinez is hopeful that Romelu Lukaku's last-gasp equaliser in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with West Ham United can prove a watershed moment in Everton's season.

The Toffees looked to be heading out of the FA Cup and on course for a fifth successive defeat in all competitions when Lukaku pounced with a late leveller at Goodison Park.

Martinez's side sit 13th in the Premier League table after an inconsistent campaign thus far, but the Spaniard hopes that denying the Hammers will prove the catalyst for better things ahead.

"I think it could really get us out of the moment we are in," he told the Liverpool Echo. "You can feel sorry for yourself and allow the run to get even longer but we stopped that. The players didn't accept that.

"It felt like a win going into the dressing room. It was rare to get a late goal as I don't think we have been getting much luck our way in the last few games.

"But it would have been very damaging to lose five games in a row. It would have been an horrendous setback."

The Merseysiders, who finished fifth in the league last season, are 15 points off a top-four place ahead of hosting co-leaders Manchester City on Saturday.