Everton 3 Villa 1 - analysis

Finishing in the top four might be the Holy Grail for the Villa boss but, make no mistake, the FA Cup was a trophy he would have dearly loved to get his hands on, not least because it is the only piece of silverware missing from his collection.

Despite Goodison being the scene of one of Villa's most exhilarating highs of this campaign and their 3-2 win there last December – sealed at the death by an Ashley Young goal – a repeat rarely looked on the cards as Everton advanced into the last eight.

Villa waved their Wembley dreams goodbye for another year and those frustrations were compounded when the quarter-final draw duly matched David Moyes' men with Middlesbrough or West Ham at home.

Disappointing? Of course. But at least other opportunities still lie on the horizon. The FA Cup flag has been lowered but O'Neill's men are still fighting on two fronts.

Exactly how they fare against CSKA Moscow in Wednesday's UEFA Cup clash and against Chelsea in Saturday's Premier League showdown – games which now take on even greater significance – will go a long way to determining their fortunes in each.

In reality, these next six days could shape Villa's season. As O'Neill admitted afterwards, the cup exit could prove a blessing in disguise, bearing in mind the resources at his disposal.

After going so long unbeaten – Villa's last domestic defeat came against Middlesbrough 16 games ago on November 9 – the big question now is how will this Villa side respond?

They have barely any time to regroup before the midweek UEFA Cup first leg – but that could work to their advantage.

Rather than having to stew over the Everton win, they will be straight back into action with a chance to set the record straight.

It is a game O'Neill will be desperate to win to take an advantage to the Russian capital for the daunting second leg.

Then there is Chelsea, Villa's biggest game of the season. Win that and third-placed Villa go five points clear of the Blues – and 10 ahead of Arsenal – although their job has been made more difficult by the appointment of Guus Hiddink at Stamford Bridge.

It will be his first game in charge and the Chelsea players will be eager to impress. Landing Champions League football remains the priority, that is for sure.

Hand on heart, if O'Neill had been forced to choose between progress yesterday and the three Premier League points Villa snatched at Goodison Park last December, it would undoubtedly have been the latter.

Last time out it was Villa who seized the initiative, Steve Sidwell opening the scoring in just 34 seconds. This time it was the Toffees' turn to net early on.

Tim Cahill lived up to his billing as a set-piece threat, heading Mikel Arteta's corner towards goal only for Stiliyan Petrov to clear with his hand. Jack Rodwell was on home to smash in the rebound – otherwise Petrov, standing in as Villa skipper, would have walked.

Within three minutes Villa were level – thanks largely to a pass from none other than Petrov.

It was brilliant play from the midfielder, exchanging passes with Sidwell before superbly sliding in Gabby Agbonlahor, who was poleaxed by Hibbert inside the box.

James Milner's low penalty lacked conviction but, much to his relief, it squirmed underneath goalkeeper Tim Howard for the midfielder's fifth goal in eight games.

Just seven minutes had gone and already the game was more than living up to the last one. Who said the FA Cup had lost its lustre?

In the true tradition of a Cup classic, the game swiftly swung back in the opposite direction. Gardner grew overly ambitious in his forward run and it proved costly as Victor Anichebe steamrollered his way through Villa's defence, before Sidwell's desperate lunge ended with the inevitable outcome. Penalty.

It was the lowest point of a miserable afternoon for Sidwell, who was well short of his best. Arteta stepped up and stroked low into the left corner to send Friedel the wrong way.

It was back to square one for Villa, yet they almost provided another swift riposte. Ashley Young was allowed time and space to deliver another of his trademark crosses to the back post.

Agbonlahor rose highest to meet it but his header flew the wrong side of the post. It was a big chance missed, one which would have favoured strike partner John Carew.

The otherwise quiet Carew awoke from his slumber on the hour to almost deliver the equaliser.

Milner swung in a low cross from the right and the big Norwegian's flick seemed destined for the bottom-right corner until it was clawed away for a corner by Howard. It was easily the save of the game.

At just 5ft 10in, Cahill sure can leap and the Aussie almost killed off the game in the 67th minute when he powered a header towards goal which was well saved by Friedel.

Villa were generally short on ideas and, on such afternoons, most managers look to their bench for inspiration.

Options are scarce for O'Neill, though, especially with his injury list at its longest all season, and he may yet come to rue a lack of transfer activity in January.

The return of Gareth Barry will certainly be a major boost – his creativity was sorely missed, with Petrov the only one to impress in this department.

O'Neill will also hope Emile Heskey is back fit as Carew, still some way from fitness, was carried for much of the game.

Sidwell and Ashley Young both spurned presentable opportunities, the former a far-post header, the latter a shot he blazed wide of the post. And Villa paid for their profligacy with 14 minutes left.

Anichebe crafted a cross with the outside of his boot, Davies, whose shoulder had popped out earlier, still looked hampered as he failed to intercept, Cahill left unmarked at the back post to fire beyond Friedel.