David Moyes: Uefa win one of my best nights yet

Oct 5 2007 By Nick Smith in the Ukraine

DAVID MOYES revealed that last night’s thrilling UEFA Cup triumph was up there with the best moments of his career.

Everton fought back after going behind twice to Metalist Kharkiv and secured a 4-3 aggregate win to go through to the group stages of the competition.

Moyes’s side failed to get past the first round two years ago when they were crushed 5-1 by Dinamo Bucharest away and couldn’t claw back the deficit in the second leg at Goodison.

And the manager admitted that he was still haunted by the crushing disappointment of that early exit when similar heartbreak seemed on the cards last night.

“This night certainly ranks up there with my best,” said Moyes. “Bucharest and the disappointment of that night was in my thoughts so I really, really wanted to get through.

“But the first round of every competition is always difficult no matter what it is and it proved to be tonight.

“I was worried at half- time because in the first half we didn’t play well and they caused us lots of problems – they were actually a very good side over the two legs.

“It was a really good game of football. They were better than average and passed it really well so we’re really pleased to get past them.”

Moyes also hailed progress in Europe as something that can give the whole club a lift for the remainder of the first half of the season.

Everton now enter the group stages with a guaranteed four further games and their opponents will be revealed in Tuesday’s draw.

But Moyes is confident that the barrier his side overcame in Ukraine last night will stand them in good stead to make an impact on the continent.

He added: “Europe is something we have all been wanting to go through in, as much for the club and the fans as anyone else.

“It’s a chance for more games and I think we’ll be good for Europe this year, especially if we continue to fill grounds like we did in the first leg and we had 1,500-2,000 here tonight and that was a big boost for us.”

Victor Anichebe scored the clinching goal in the last minute to give Everton a 3-2 win on the night, but they were already going through on away goals by that stage.

Earlier, Joleon Lescott continued his surprisingly prolific start to the campaign with his fifth of the season to make it 1-1 after Metalist had gone in at the break 2-1 up on aggregate.

Then after going behind again, James McFadden scored his fourth club goal of the season to add to the two vital strikes he has netted for Scotland in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

“James is in the type of form where, if he gets a chance like that, you think ‘he can score here’,” added Moyes.

“It was a good strike and he got it in off the post into the bottom corner.”

McFadden believed his effort is on a par with the memorable strike for his country that defeated France in the Parc des Princes last month.

“It’s nice to score goals when it means as much as it does tonight, it’s extra special,” he said.

“In terms of importance, this is up there with the goal against France. It’s a long time since Everton have been in the proper stages of any European competition, so it’s up there alongside it.”

He added: “It as tough game but we had the belief and we knew we’d score goals.

“It was a bit shaky at times but we got the right result at the end.

“I don’t know what was up with us in the first half. They came out and had a go and scored and it gave them a lift. But we regrouped after half-time and showed a phenomenal spirit.

“I think we were a bit lucky tonight but you need luck in football. And in the end we’ve won 3-2 away from home and that’s great result whoever you play against in European football.

“We’ll have to play better in the group stages, but it’s a nice habit to have to not perform at the level you have and still win games,” he added.

Andrew Johnson failed a late fitness test on his injured groin and didn’t make the bench for the game, with Moyes now assessing the striker’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

The draw for the group stage of the UEFA Cup takes place next Tuesday in Nyon, Switzerland.