Everton came from behind to overcome Middlesbrough 2-1 at Goodison Park and earn an FA Cup semi-final meeting with Manchester United.

David Wheater stunned the home fans with a headed goal on the stroke of half-time which Everton keeper Tim Howard parried over his line in agonising fashion.

But his opposite number Brad Jones had a similar aberration as Marouane Fellaini capitalised on the Boro keeper’s indecision to regain parity for his side with a precise headed goal.

Toffees boss David Moyes introduced Louis Saha at half-time and it proved to be an inspired move as the Frenchman clinched victory for his side with a powerful header from Steven Pienaar’s pinpoint cross.

The Toffees will face Sir Alex Ferguson’s quadruple chasing Manchester United side at Wembley on the weekend of April 18 with Arsenal or Hull meeting Chelsea in the other tie.

While much of the play was fragmented, with both sets of fans frustrated by the lack of conviction shown in attack in the first half, the intensity rose in the second following Wheater’s opener.

Tim Cahill again led the Everton forward line from the outset, but few chances were created, with Jeremie Aliadiere having the bulk of the opportunities for the visitors.

Indeed Aliadiere squandered a glorious chance to put Boro ahead after Matthew Bates cut the ball back into his path but the Frenchman leant back and sliced his shot over the bar to the delight of the home fans.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo was afforded a free header courtesy of some slack Middlesbrough marking, but the defender directed his effort straight at the diving Jones.

The Nigerian atoned for his profligacy at one end, with some fine defending at the other, scampering across to block Aliadiere’s shot from inside the Everton box, with Howard struggling on the half-hour.

Just as both managers were preparing their team-talks, Wheater caused the notes to be ripped up as the defender’s bullet header converted Aliadiere’s cross from the right, with Howard juggling the ball on the goalline and spilling it in the process.

The French forward was the culprit of a lack of conviction once again after half-time, after stealing in front of Joleon Lescott at the near post, he sliced his shot wide of Howard’s near post from Tuncay’s delivery.

Fellaini made Boro pay with a 50th-minute equaliser, rising high to nod home from Cahill’s cross with Jones stranded halfway off his line.

Leighton Baines then delivered a free-kick which prompted chaos in the Boro box as Jones again lacked judgement with Saha almost capitalising with a volley, but for a poor execution.

But the Frenchman made amends with a bullet header in the 56th minute to complete the change of fortunes.

Saha had a great chance to compound Jones’s and Middlesbrough’s misery after latching on to a cross following more indecision at the back, but the Frenchman shot wide with little pressure applied.

The visitors produced a late surge of pressure which the Everton back four dealt with successfully, but it was a nervy closure for Moyes’s side as they cleared a flurry of crosses from their box.

But the Toffees clung on to their slender lead to advance to the semi-finals of the FA Cup to the delight of their fans at a raucous Goodison Park.