Everton manager David Moyes refused to lay blame on his players following their FA Cup third-round exit to Sunderland, which came after a penalty shoot-out. The match, played at Hill Dickinson Stadium, ended 1-1 after extra time, with Sunderland ultimately winning the shoot-out 3-0.

Moyes expressed disappointment with the manner of the loss but defended his players after the defeat. "I don't think you blame anybody when you lose a penalty shoot-out," Moyes stated, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of penalties and the goalkeeper's role in making saves.

Everton's woes in the shoot-out saw James Garner, Thierno Barry, and Beto all fail to convert their penalties, with Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs saving all three. This marked a historic low for Everton, as it was the first time in the club's history that they had failed to score a single penalty in a shoot-out. Everton also became only the second top-flight team to lose an FA Cup shoot-out without scoring, a fate Blackburn Rovers also suffered against Sunderland in 2003.

Garner had earlier scored from the penalty spot in the 89th minute to level the score after Enzo Le Fee's first-half goal. Despite getting back into the game, Moyes felt his team did not perform well enough in the shoot-out. "It felt as if we didn't do it in that way and that's why we have all walked away with huge disappointment," he said.

Moyes also stated, "We did a great job to get back in the game and get ourselves level with what was available but when we get to that point you're hoping to go on and show it and it was poor".

Roefs was the hero of the hour for Sunderland, with his penalty saves sending his team into the fourth round. Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris praised the young goalkeeper, saying, "He is getting better. He is really young and he wants to learn so I think when you give him opportunities to play at that level he will grow quickly and I think it is only the beginning,". Le Bris added that Roefs is consistent and helped the team in the penalty shoot-out.