PHIL NEVILLE insists Everton’s FA Cup dream lives on despite the disappointment of Matt Smith’s late equaliser for Oldham.

The League One club levelled with the last act of Saturday’s game but Neville knows that journeys to the latter stages of this competition rarely run smoothly.

Everton now have to beat Oldham at home on February 27 to book a quarter-final place and a Goodison visit from Wigan.

He said: “It is always tough to take when you concede a goal that late.

“But we are still in the hat for the next round and we have got Oldham to come to Goodison.

“Always during a cup run you get a game that goes to a replay after it’s been harder than you think; last year we had to go to Sunderland after drawing at home.”

Everton triumphed in the north east to book a Wembley date and Neville is determined for a similar outcome this time around.

Although he is confident ahead of the replay, the skipper admitted he harboured regrets over the Blues’ performance against Tony Philliskirk’s men.

He added: “Oldham played really well, they gave as good as they got. Maybe we should have had it wrapped up a little bit sooner.

“We have an experienced side that should be able to handle their late pressure.

“The disappointment is that we didn’t give the massive support we had the victory they wanted.

“But this is what the FA Cup does – Arsenal lost at home to Blackburn – and we are still in the hat.”