Tim Cahill was aware of some negative press towards Everton early in the season but is delighted that things have now worked out fairly well.
The Toffees won just five of their first 15 Premier League matches this term, which prompted the critics to once again jump on their backs, but as is customary these days things have turned out positively at Goodison Park.
Four losses from their next 15 in the league and an FA Cup run which has seen them book a place in the semi-final at Wembley - where they will meet Merseyside rivals Liverpool next month - has everybody at the club buzzing and the achievement has not been lost on Australian ace Cahill.
"It's an amazing feeling and something so special for this club. It gives everyone a lift.
"The performance is up there with the best of them because of what it means to the fans, the players and the club.
"At the start of the season, the reports were indifferent and there were a lot of people down about the football club.
"But we've had such a turnaround and, as I've said time and time again, the players love Everton and that's what has made a difference.""We are trying to take ourselves to the next level and on Tuesday we managed to do that," he said in the wake of the FA Cup quarter-final replay win over Sunderland.
