Blues progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup with their first win at Goodison Park in 53 years - a spirited 2-1 victory earned thanks to a tremendous team ethic and two excellent team goals.

An early Chucho header and 39^th minute Barry Ferguson strike put Alex McLeish's side through but, as you would expect from a side two down at the break, Everton rallied in the second half and pulled a goal back through substitute Leon Osman.

The win continued Blues' fine run of form and made it 15 matches unbeaten in all competitions.

Irish midfielder Keith Fahey came into the Blues side for the fourth round FA Cup tie at Everton and there was a place on the bench for new signing Michel.

Spanish schemer Michel, signed from Sporting Gijon for £3 million, was joined amongst the substitutes by 18-year-old Academy striker Jake Jervis who was handed a squad number just 24 hours before the game and would go on to come on for his first team debut late in the second half.

The first real chance of the game, following a lukewarm opening, resulted in Blues taking the lead through an excellently worked goal.

Ecuadorian frontman Chucho charged through the centre of the park and kept his run going after leaving the ball for team-mate Barry Ferguson. The Scottish midfielder swept a lovely ball over the Everton defence to Fahey out on the right and he swept a first time cross in behind last man Phil Neville for the onrushing Chucho to nod the ball back across Tim Howard and in at the far post.

On 12 Stephen Carr gave away a free-kick just a few yards outside the box when he pushed Tim Cahill in the back but the Blues wall reacted superbly to rush out and block Louis Saha's driven effort.

The home fans began to get frustrated as their side continued to look for an equaliser but struggled to break down the visitors' determined and resilient backline.

With 32 played Roger Johnson soared superbly on the edge of the area to head the ball away and prevent Landon Donovan from having an opening after Steven Pienaar had floated over a centre.

Five minutes later Pienaar was involved again but, marshalled well and pushed back by the Blues' defence, he could only curl his shot well wide of target before, at the other end, Johnson headed James McFadden's near post corner from the right over the bar.

But the travelling faithful didn't have to wait long to see their side double the advantage with another excellent goal.

Fahey picked up possession in centre field and played a pinpoint pass to Seb Larsson on the right. In terms of delivery what came next was even better. The Swede swung over a lovely low right-footed cross and McFadden, on the turn, produced a majestic, deft lay-off into the path of the advancing Barry Ferguson who calmly slotted a low left-footed finish beyond Howard's outstretched right arm and in low at the back post.

Everton made a change for the start of the second half, Leon Osman coming on for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, but it was Blues wide man Larsson who crafted the first opportunity after the re-start - his low shot flying just a yard wide.

On 49 Larsson turned provider, releasing Chucho through the centre of the home defence. The striker raced onto the ball, took a faint touch but unfortunately fired straight at the keeper.

The Toffees broke almost immediately and Marouane Fellaini broke onto the edge of the Blues six-yard box but could only head over Phil Neville's right wing cross.

On 56 Goodison erupted as the Toffees pulled one back. The hosts developed a move from the left-hand-side, Baines finding Pienaar on the edge of the box and then the South African rolling a ball into the path of sub Osman, who clinically curled a right-footed effort from 18 yards past the reach of Joe Hart's full length dive to his left.

With almost a quarter of an hour of the second period gone Baines floated a free-kick into the box and as Blues struggled to clear the ball fell for Fellaini at the back post. He pulled the trigger but his low thunderbolt was superbly blocked by Johnson.

Saha then fired over from 14 yards as Everton pressed forward again and the crowd started to sense their side could get back into things, but McLeish's men were once again bravely putting their bodies on the line.

On 64 Saha's half volley from the edge of the box scuffed the post before going wide and a minute later Howard Webb waved aside small-scale Toffee claims for a penalty after Johnson had put pressure on Saha.

The hosts second change saw James Vaughan come on for Saha and it wasn't long before the replacement was involved, heading over from six yards following a Fellaini flick-on.

Goodison was on its feet with 15 minutes left as Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta stepped off the bench to make a return to action after no less than 11 months out with a cruciate ligament injury. He replaced Donovan.

As 18-year-old Jervis prepared to enter the fray for his Blues debut Vaughan volleyed just over from an Arteta cross and then the Academy scholar was able to make his bow, coming on for Chucho.

On 85 Hart continued a theme of the season by producing another world class save to push behind a Fellaini header from eight yards as the hosts desperately sought a last gasp equaliser.

The same player held his head in his hands in anguish as he skewed a low shot just wide of the far post but it was Blues celebrating as they kept things sound at the back and earned a placed in round five with a 2-1 victory.

Everton: Tim Howard, John Heitinga, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Leon Osman 46), Louis Saha (James Vaughan 68), Landon Donovan (Mikel Arteta 76), Sylvan Distin, Tim Cahill, Phil Neville (C), Steven Pienaar, Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini. Unused subs: Carlo Nash, Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, Jose Baxter.

Blues: Joe Hart, Stephen Carr (C), Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Liam Ridgewell, Seb Larsson, Barry Ferguson, Keith Fahey, Lee Bowyer, James McFadden (Gary McSheffrey 90), Chucho (Jake Jervis 79). Unused subs: Maik Taylor, Damien Johnson, Franck Queudrue, Michel, Gregory Vignal

Referee: Howard Webb

Bookings: Cahill (79)

Goals: Chucho (7), Ferguson (39), Osman (56)

Attendance: 30,875