Sub Phil Neville gave us impetus - David Moyes

Sep 27 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES believes the second-half contribution of substitute Phil Neville proved the catalyst for Everton’s Carling Cup triumph last night.

There was no score when Neville stepped off the bench at half-time of the third round tie at Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday. But the visitors ultimately eased to a 3-0 victory to earn their place in the last 16 of the competition.

James McFadden netted in the 58th and 83rd minute before creating a third for Yakubu, yet it was Neville who earned the most glowing praise from Moyes.

“The difference for me was Phil Neville coming on a half-time,” said the Goodison manager. “The way he played in the second half was probably the impetus which we need to go on to get the result which lifted the whole game from being quite equal at the time.

“He was excellent at right-back, the crosses he put in when he come on and he was getting forward and joining in. Both Phil and Faddy were involved in nearly all the goals.

“Right-back has always been his position but we need him to do more jobs, certainly with the injuries we have got at the moment.”

Neville had replaced Tony Hibbert, who was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card in first-half injury time after

clattering Wednesday winger Wade Small.

And Moyes said: “I would have probably taken Hibbo off because of the challenge, and he had a bit of a groin strain too.

“Nuno Valente also got a knock. At half-time, I knew that Nuno was probably not going to last much longer, so I had to keep that in mind when making my substitutions.”

McFadden’s double means he has scored three goals in as many starts for Everton this season, while Yakubu’s strike was his second following his club record £11.5million move from Middlesbrough.

“James has shown a handy knack of turning games,” said Moyes. “You can certainly see he has confidence. I’ve been saying that people are reading an awful lot into who the strikers might be, but James is up there with the others. He’s competing with them, and scored two goals tonight which was great.

“It was good that Yak got a goal too. I thought his work-rate was better. He was a bit anxious in the first half but hopefully the goal will settle him down a little bit.

“Let’s hope he keeps banging them in because we’ve got some big games coming up and we need people who can score goals.”

The win earned Everton a first clean sheet of the season and brought an end to a run of results that had seen them win just one of the previous six games.

“It was professional job,” said Moyes of the victory. “Three-nil probably flatters us slightly but nevertheless it was the clean sheet we have been wanting.

“To come here and win was never going to be an easy task. We’ve done a job, although I’d have liked it do have been done a bit earlier.

“I didn’t think we played well in the first half we gave them too much room, albeit I don’t think they had much in the box and just shots from distance.

“It could be the win that acts as a kickstart for us. Whoever we draw in the next round, it won’t be easy. Be it Peterborough or Luton or Sheffield Wednesday, we’ve never found it easy to get through.”

Meanwhile, Anderson de Silva has extended his loan spell at Coca-Cola Championship outfit Barnsley for another month.

There are tickets still remaining for Sunday’s Premier League visit of Middlesbrough. Fans can purchase their ticket from the Goodison Park Box Office or by visiting evertonfc.com.