Victory was for everyone at club – Moyes

Dec 17 2007 by Chris Beesley, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON manager David Moyes declared that a second away win at West Ham in four days was for everybody connected with the club to enjoy.

Following Wednesday night’s 2-1 success at Upton Park in the Carling Cup quarter-final, Everton’s players and staff remained in London ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash and Moyes revealed that the whole team both on and off the pitch used the experience to help team spirit.

He said: “We stayed down in London for four days and doing that you can build a strong spirit and we’ve got strength among the staff too.

“It’s important that the staff play their part in winning the games too whether it’s the masseurs or physios, doctors or fitness coaches so they need to enjoy it as well.

“Most people would probably have said before the two games that you won’t win two. I think we had the players believing that we would win two and after Wednesday night we gained confidence.

“I was determined that we would try and get this one won as well albeit I knew it would be difficult and that’s the way it proved.”

Moyes added: “I think we deserved both wins. We played well today and had to ride our luck but you’re not going to go away to a club like West Ham and not get that.

“You’ve got to give West Ham credit, they made it very difficult for us and missed opportunities but we might have had three or four in the second half and I can’t remember them having anything as clear-cut as we had.”

Everton are now unbeaten in their last 12 games, with the second win at West Ham their 10th in the sequence but Moyes admits there isn’t any particular part of their play that came be sited as being the reason for their success.

He said: “I don’t think there’s any one thing I can put the run down to. Today I thought there were moments when we passed and made chances in the second half but there were long periods today when we had to defend very well and needed the goalkeeper to make a very good save.

“I couldn’t pick out any one piece of the team at the moment and say that is making the difference.

“I think our play has improved and we’re becoming a better footballing side and if that’s noticeable to me I’m sure it’s noticeable to everybody else as well.”

Saturday’s win puts Everton on 30 points and within touching distance of the top four so Moyes is pleased that his side have been doing well ahead of losing three of his first team regulars in the New Year for the African Cup of Nations.

Defender Joseph Yobo and striker Ayegbeni Yakubu have both been named in Berti Vogts’ provisional Nigeria squad while Steven Pienaar has been called up for South Africa,

Moyes said: “We’re a little bit light in one department but in most departments we’re okay.”