FA Cup: Everton v Oldham Athletic match preview

A look ahead to tonight’s FA Cup fixture at Goodison Park

Oldham celebrate their FA Cup victory over Liverpool (GETTY IMAGES)

Everton are strong favourites to progress to a quarter-final meeting with Wigan Athletic, but the Toffees have failed to win any of their last four matches. Since beating West Brom 2-1 at Goodison Park on January 30, Everton have drawn 3-3 at home to Aston Villa, lost 2-0 at Old Trafford, drawn 2-2 at Boundary Park and lost 2-1 at Carrow Road.

David Moyes’ side still sit sixth in the Premier League table, despite the recent poor run, and they are seven points adrift of a Champions League place. The hosts could probably have done without tonight’s match as they led the original tie 2-1 before Matt Smith’s stoppage-time equaliser.

Visitors Oldham have been on a fine run of form since appointing Tony Philliskirk as caretaker manager following the departure of former boss Paul Dickov. The Latics have beaten Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 at Boundary Park, drawn 2-2 with Everton, won 2-1 at Stevenage and beaten Portsmouth 1-0 at home.

Before Dickov's exit Oldham had picked up only one point in nine league matches. Despite the recent upturn in form the Latics are still embroiled in a relegation battle and are currently 19th in the League One table, four points clear of the relegation zone.

KICK-OFF: Tuesday, 7.45pm

PAST MEETINGS…

Oldham Athletic 2 (Obita, Smith) Everton 2 (Anichebe, Jagielka), FA Cup, Fifth Round, February 2013

Everton 0 Oldham Athletic 1 (McDonald), FA Cup, Third Round, January 2008

STATS…

Everton have kept only three clean sheets in their last 16 FA Cup matches, and have not been knocked out of this competition by a third-tier club since Oldham five years ago.

The 2009 runners-up and last year's semi-finalists are playing an FA Cup game at home for the first time this season, and they have not been knocked out at home in this competition since Reading secured a 1-0 fifth-round win at Goodison in March 2011.

Everton are aiming to reach the sixth round for a 28th time, a record only bettered by Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Oldham have reached the fifth round of this competition for the first time since 1994, when they appeared in the semi-finals.

The Latics have knocked Everton out of the FA Cup on three previous occasions, in 1913 and 1990 when they reached the semi-finals, and 2008 when they were knocked out in the fourth round.

Oldham have won three of their last six FA Cup games against Premier League opposition, drawing one and losing two. They beat Manchester City 1-0 at home in the third round in January 2005, won 1-0 at Everton in the third round in January 2008 and beat Liverpool 3-2 at home in the fourth round in January 2013, drew 2-2 at home to Everton in the fifth round in February 2013, lost 1-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers in the fourth round in January 2005 and lost 5-1 at Liverpool in the third round in January 2012.

ODDS…

Everton to win: 1/6

Oldham to win: 14/1

Draw: 6/1

TV: Live on ITV1 at 7.45pm, highlights on ITV1 at 10.35pm.