Everton’s topsy-turvy season continues to frustrate and delight in equal measure, as vital consecutive EPL victories sandwiched a shock, and shocking, FA Cup fifth round exit at home to Championship promotion contenders Reading.

The Toffees play the second of three consecutive home EPL games with this Saturday’s visit of Fulham after last night’s 1-1 home draw with struggling Birmingham City took them up to ninth in the EPL table.

Johnny Heitinga’s well-taken goal extended Everton’s unbeaten EPL run to five games, leaving Moyes pondering his side’s “lack of creativity” but he added that: “we’ve known about that for a while” and was pleased that “the players have dug deep and got good results.”

But Goodison supremo David Moyes had harsh words to say after the Reading defeat, saying his side had “let the supporters down” by undoing all the good work done in the previous round at Stamford Bridge.

There was also dispiriting news on the injury front as Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini was ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a blow to the ankle in Everton’s 2-0 win over Sunderland at the end of last month.

And midfield colleague Mikel Arteta limped out of he Birmingham game after only seven minutes with a hamstring problem. Moyes said after the game:

“It looks like a hamstring injury. It’s too early to say – but I’m guessing he will be out for a few weeks.”

Arteta and Fellaini join fellow midfielder Tim Cahill on the proverbial treatment table.