Birmingham City’s impressive season is not restricted entirely to the Premier League. Their sixth successive win, extending their unbeaten run to 15 matches, took them into the FA Cup fifth round at the expense of a disjointed Everton.

Birmingham needed only seven minutes to take the lead. An Everton free kick came to nought and Barry Ferguson immediately countered. Ferguson made 40 yards, Keith Fahey’s cross from the right of the area was measured and, once it had eluded Leighton Baines, Christian Benítez supplied the stopping header from five yards. The name Benítez has haunted Merseyside all season.

Birmingham’s second goal, three minutes before the interval, was a gem. The midfield energy came from Keith Fahey, and when he fed Sebastian Larsson on the right Everton seemed back in numbers. But Larsson’s immediate, low cross was dummied by Ferguson, James McFadden alertly supplied a short return pass and Ferguson curled the ball around Tim Howard left-footed.

Marouane Fellaini had Everton’s half chances, first shooting high after a muffed clearance by Lee Bowyer, and then heading off target from Phil Neville’s cross. But opportunities were few and far before Leon Osman, a half-time substitute for Diniyar Bilyaletnidov, pegged one back for Everton with a neat finish after 57 minutes, after Baines had evaded Stephen Carr’s reckless, sliding challenge.

That provoked Everton’s best period of the game. Scott Dann did well to block one shot from Fellaini and Louis Saha twice went close before he was replaced by James Vaughan after 69 minutes.

Fellaini increasingly became Everton’s likeliest saviour. He should have equalised for Everton five minutes from time but shot straight at Joe Hart, and he also dragged a shot inches wide in stoppage time.

But Everton are out and their largest cheer of the afternoon came for the return of Mikel Arteta for the closing 14 minutes. Arteta’s last game was against Newcastle in February, a cruciate ligament injury having robbed Everton of their most creative force for the past 11 months.

Everton confirmed before kick-off the loan signing of Arsenal’s Swiss defender Philippe Senderos for the rest of the season. Senderos, who has been limited to Carling Cup appearances this season, hopes the move will rekindle his chances of breaking into Switzerland’s World Cup squad.

FA CupEvertonBirmingham CityDavid Hoppsguardian.co.uk