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Everton KO Bournemouth; Reading dump West Brom out of FA Cup
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Everton KO Bournemouth; Reading dump West Brom out of FA Cup

Published Feb. 20, 2016 12:00 p.m. ET

Goals from Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku sealed Everton's passage into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 fifth-round win at Bournemouth.

Having controlled large spells of the first half at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday evening, the Toffees made the breakthrough on 55 minutes when Barkley's deflected effort looped over Adam Federici.

Lukaku then put the tie beyond Bournemouth, who saw a first-half Charlie Daniels penalty saved by Joel Robles, with a low effort 15 minutes from time.

And that was the way it finished as Everton, yet to concede in this season's FA Cup, put their name in the hat for the next round with another assured cup display.

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Bournemouth made seven changes to the side which lost at home to Stoke last week, welcoming back captain Tommy Elphick for only his second start since September as the hosts Cherries looked to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for only the first time since 1956.

Roberto Martinez signalled his intention of reaching the next round of the cup by naming an unchanged side, and it took a familiar Toffees side just four minutes to create their first opening, but Barkley was unable to test Federici.

Juan Iturbe mustered the hosts' first attempt ten minutes later but, having shown great pace to get away from Bryan Oviedo, the on-loan Roma frontman screwed his effort wide.

Lukaku's blistering run then saw him escape the clutches of Elphick shortly before the half-hour mark, but the Belgian was denied by Federici.

Bournemouth were then gifted the opportunity to open the scoring when James McCarthy inexcusably handled the ball in the area on 37 minutes, but Robles was on hand to deny Daniels' well-struck effort, before the rebound was fired into the side-netting.

Everton took full advantage of their reprieve after the interval, wrestling the initiative before breaking the deadlock.

Barkley was invited to shoot on the edge of the Bournemouth area and his effort took a wicked deflection off former Everton man Dan Gosling, sending the ball agonisingly over Federici.

And it was almost two a couple of minutes later as Lukaku was slipped through on goal and found the back of the net, only for the offside flag came to the hosts' rescue.

Bournemouth then mounted sustained push for an equaliser. First, Junior Stanislas saw a free-kick deflect inches wide of the target shortly after the hour before Gosling spurned a glorious chance on 72 minutes, heading straight at Robles from close range.

The Cherries' pursuit of an equaliser proved to be fruitless as substitute Matt Ritchie became the next player to waste a chance, blazing a left-footed effort over after Joshua King's great work down left.

And the hosts paid the price for not taking their chances as Gareth Barry flicked Oviedo's corner into the path of Lukaku who tapped home from close range 14 minutes from time to seal Everton's passage into the last eight.

Reading reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for just the fifth time in their history as they stunned West Brom to leave Albion fans turning on their team.

The Royals came from behind to win 3-1 against a poor Albion side who deserved to go out but there were worrying scenes at the final whistle when Chris Brunt appeared to be hit by something thrown from the visiting fans as he went to applaud them.

Albion fans were angry after defeat and Brunt had to be led away by Darren Fletcher as he was seen remonstrating with a group of supporters.

Former Albion defender Paul McShane cancelled out Fletcher's second-half opener before Chelsea loanee Michael Hector netted his first goal of the season. Lucas Piazon finished the game in stoppage time as the visitors pushed for a leveller.

West Brom boss Tony Pulis had insisted his side would take the Cup seriously but the head coach was let down by the quality of his side, who have won just twice in their last 11 games.

Pulis had also agreed with talk of scrapping FA Cup replays but would have gladly taken one as Saido Berahino and Fletcher missed late chances.

Reading, mid-table in the Sky Bet Championship, deserved their victory for taking what few chances they had and showing more endeavour.

Meanwhile, a horror own-goal by Leeds defender Scott Wootton gifted Watford a place in the sixth round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Wootton, who started his career with Manchester United, shanked the ball into his own net as he attempted to divert the ball for a corner with 53 minutes gone.

While Leeds pressed for an equaliser to take the fifth-round tie to a replay, the Barclays Premier League side stood firm to earn their spot in the last eight for the first time since 2007.

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