David Moyes hails Tim Cahill on scoring return

Oct 26 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DELIGHTED David Moyes hailed the return of Tim Cahill as Everton began the UEFA Cup group stage with victory last night.

Cahill netted just 14 minutes into his comeback game to send the Goodison outfit on their way to a 3-1 home win over Larissa of Greece.

It was the Australian’s first senior appearance since breaking the fifth metatarsal in his left foot at Sheffield United in March, an injury he then aggravating during the pre-season friendly against Werder Bremen in late July.

Cahill received a rousing ovation from the Goodison faithful midway through the second half when he was replaced by Thomas Gravesen, who was also making a return after seven weeks out injured.

And Moyes said: “Tim does what he does, doesn’t he? That’s where we have missed him at moments.

“The game was quite tight at different times and we needed to get a goal to change the game and we got that. Tim was the ‘Johnny on the spot’ again for us.

“We’ve got competition for places. We still need to get Tim completely match fit and Tommy in the right condition for us, but it is positive tonight that we had them for parts of the game.”

Of the substitution, Moyes added: “I want to make sure we aren’t pushing Tim too much too soon.

“We need Tim back as it allowed us to play a different way, as you saw tonight. He plays in a different role to anyone else I have at the club, and we haven’t had the previously this season.”

Leon Osman doubled Everton’s lead with a fantastic strike five minutes after the interval, but a rare Joleon Lescott mistake allowed Brazilian striker Cleyton to pull one back for Larissa on 65 minutes.

Substitute Victor Anichebe’s late goal sealed the win, and with Zenit St Petersburg and AZ Alkmaar drawing 1-1 yesterday, Everton currently head Group A.

“Our display was very good, and at times it was excellent,” said Moyes. “A moment of madness made us feel a little bit uneasy but overall we were happy with the performance.

“We were a little worried at 2-1. We lost a poor goal and it gave Larissa confidence and it knocked us back for a little while. But I think we showed a bit more maturity playing in Europe tonight. We were more than comfortable at 2-0 up and I thought we scored a wonderful second goal, but we got a wee bit carried away at that point and did one or two silly things.

“The third goal was a great goal by Victor. It was typical Victor and it’s what he has done in the UEFA Cup this season so far already.”

Moyes believes the display was the perfect response to the derby disappointment against Liverpool on Saturday.

“We’ve been in a good frame of mind because our performance at the weekend warranted a result,” he said. “We were confident going into the game tonight and for most of the game we showed that.

“It was an encouraging start to the group. Larissa caused us problems and can take a lot from the game.

“We deserved the victory but I have to say that Larissa had moments as well. I saw their performances against Blackburn and I knew they were more than capable of scoring a goal.”

Moyes revealed that James McFadden had been substituted midway through the second half after complaining of illness, while Phil Neville was absent with a twisted ankle and is a doubt for Sunday’s trip to Derby County.

Meanwhile, the row over Saturday’s controversial defeat to Liverpool rumbled on last night when Moyes hit out at the attitude of the Anfield side following the game and claimed the majority of people sympathised with Everton over the performance of referee Mark Clattenburg.

Writing in the match programme, Moyes said: “Even though the result did not go for us, the players should have come away feeling like winners.

“I have never known such widespread condemnation of a referee for his decisions in one game.

“But some of the comments which came from the opposition I regarded as a total cop out. Here at Everton, I always try and give a fair assessment, whether the decisions have gone for us or against us. That is the way I will always do it.”