John Aldridge's First Division wonderboys heaped humiliation on their supposed big time Mersey neighbours to grab a famous FA Cup fourth round triumph.

The former Liverpool hero saw his Tranmere heroes outfight and outplay opponents who now face only a fight to avoid joining their neighbours in the same division next season.

Unrest festered all around Goodison Park - apart from the Tranmere contingent - as abuse rained down on the home side as they trudged off at the end.

Two fans were thrown off the pitch earlier in the second half, and another in injury time as the anger of the home support threatened to explode.

Everton shouldn't be surprised. Tranmere make a habit of battering the big boys.

This was their sixth Premiership cup scalp in 16 months, Everton going the same way as West Ham, Coventry, Leeds, Middlesbrough and Sunderland when confronted by Rovers, who just seem to come to life against the top clubs.

Beaten Wembley finalists in the Worthington Cup last year, they certainly have a taste for cup glory, and their ferry back across the Mersey to Birkenhead was surely a very happy ship.

Defender Steve Yates headed two fine goals and Jason Koumas, the architect of so much good from Tranmere's ranks, got the other.

Everton were left in a sorry mess, with their fans deserting them in droves long before the end.

This Mersey derby had produced a sell out Goodison Park for the first competitive meeting between these two clubs since 1968.

Everton won FA Cup and League Cup games that year against the men from Birkenhead, but were on the receiving end in this one.

Tranmere got under the skins of Everton's big timers and gave them a lesson in passion and fight plus pace.

Everton started well enough, the confidence from their impressive victory at Coventry last weekend initially carried through into this local showdown.

But, after an early flurry that saw shots charged down from Stephen Hughes and Thomas Gravesen, plus a save at the feet of Kevin Campbell by John Achterberg, things started to go badly wrong.

Achterberg palmed out a fierce Gravesen 20-yarder, but once the early heat had been taken out of Everton's game, Tranmere rose in stature and confidence.

Rovers began to get into the game and a fine jinking run from Jason Koumas threatened to open up Everton's defence.

Gravesen then got away with two heavy challenges on the clever midfielder with just a warning from referee Jeff Winter.

Myhre, on loan to Tranmere earlier in the campaign, then sliced a clearance high into the air and Andy Parkinson won possession and drilled a low cross into the box that Dave Unsworth hacked away.

That seemed to press the panic buttons all around, and Everton were increasingly on the back foot.

They couldn't handle the set plays, the high balls or the pace of Andy Parkinson.

Steve Yates, only playing as a wing back because of Gareth Roberts' suspension, was next to worry Everton, when he burst through on the left of the box to fire in a shot which Myhre clutched low down.

But the doubts about Everton's back line were really exposed when Tranmere took a shock lead on 22 minutes. Yates, normally a centre back, again arrived on the box, this time to send a looping header back into the far corner from Sean Flynn's cross.

That served to further boost Rovers, who utilised Parkinson's pace and spread fear through Everton's side.

It was no surprised when Everton were stunned again after 35 minutes as Tranmere went two ahead. Parkinson's chipped cross was hooked on the run by Koumas high over Myhre and into the far corner from just outside the box.

Everton's front pair of Campbell and Cadamarteri were well shackled by centre backs Graham Allen, Clint Hill and the experienced old head of on-loan Richard Jobson, who is soon expected to complete a free transfer from Manchester City.

You felt that Everton couldn't get off quick enough at the break, and it could easily have been three when Parkinson sprinted away onto a ball from former Everton star Paul Rideout, and only the quick reactions of Michael Ball stopped the former Liverpool youth team winger heaping further embarrassment onto their hosts.

Gravesen was then booked for chopping down Parkinson as the winger raced away again, this time down the right. At this stage it was about the only way Everton could stop him.

Everton took off Unsworth and Hughes at the break, bringing on Richard Gough and Joe-Max Moore.

Xavier had a shot kicked off the line by Des Hamilton from Gravesen's corner as Everton worked desperately to get back into the game.

But Parkinson was soon back in full flow, out running Xavier and driving in a shot that Myhre could only push away.

Winter turned down penalty appeals when Cadamarteri went crashing after turning into Allen in the box after 53 minutes.

A minute later Winter further enraged the home fans for booking Scot Gemmill for a trip, and Allen for a foul seconds before the Cadamarteri clash.

It was all over bar the shouting on 61 minutes when Yates again arrived in the box unattended to power home a Koumas corner.

Unrest among Everton fans came from all quarters. Two fans were quickly hauled off the field before the re-start and anger was directed at the directors' box.

Rovers fans just celebrated. Their team, with just two wins in 19 league games and relegation candidates, had produced fire, drive and organisation that far surpassed an increasingly ragged Everton.

Teams

Everton Myhre, Steve Watson, Xavier, Ball, Unsworth (Gough 45), Gemmill, Gravesen, Pembridge, Hughes (Moore 45), Campbell, Cadamarteri (Tal 71).

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, Jevons.

Booked: Gravesen, Gemmill, Tal, Pembridge.

Tranmere Achterberg, Hill, Jobson, Hamilton, Yates, Allen, Hinds, Koumas, Flynn (Henry 83), Parkinson (Scott Taylor 86), Rideout (Hume 80).

Subs Not Used: Allison, Murphy.

Booked: Allen.

Goals: Yates 22, Koumas 35, Yates 62.

Att: 39,207

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).