David Moyes on a mission to go fourth

Jan 14 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

AMBITIOUS David Moyes believes improving Everton have a chance of breaking into the top four once again this season.

The Goodison Park outfit moved up to fifth place at the weekend with a hard-earned 1-0 home victory over Manchester City.

Moyes’s side are now level on points with City, Aston Villa and fourth-placed Liverpool as the quartet eye the final Champions League qualification berth.

The Everton manager has been keen to keep a lid on Premier League expectation this season, insistent that the increasing competition in the division makes a top-half finish a significant achievement.

But having seen his team register their 12th league win of the season – only Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have more – Moyes has admitted for the first time that his team can replicate their achievement of 2005 by finishing above Liverpool in fourth place.

Asked if just finishing in the top 10 would now be a disappointment, the Goodison manager – who celebrated his 10th anniversary as a manager on Saturday – said: “In a way I’m glad the fans would be disappointed with only that as it shows we have raised expectations, but I am being realistic.

“It’s great to be in the position we are. I’m not going to say we’re going to do it (finish fourth) but we have done before and because of our improvement, we have a chance.”

Saturday was Everton’s first game without the trio of Yakubu, Joseph Yobo and Steven Pienaar, who are now expected to be on African Cup of Nations duty until mid-February.

Of the victory, Moyes added: “We ground out a result against a City side that were playing well and that shows the other side of our game.

“We have a lot of belief that we can go the distance. The players have the bit between their teeth and it’s a really good result. It was a very important game.

“This is going to be a difficult four to six weeks with the games we have and people missing.”

As well as Yakubu, Everton were also without Andrew Johnson in attack at the weekend after the England international striker hurt his knee during training on Friday.

It gave a chance to Victor Anichebe as a lone striker, and the 19-year-old responded well in his first Premier League start since October 20.

Fellow youngster James Vaughan also enjoyed a half-hour run-out as a second-half substitute, and Moyes added: “There’s a lot more development to come from those two boys, and I mention them together because they’re very similar in many ways. It’s a big thng to play up front for Everton, and I thought Victor handled it very well today. This is a chance now for me to see what they can do as much as a chance for them - and they both have a real opportunity of going all the way.

“The next part is developing their understanding, but they both have enthusiasm, which you can’t take away.

“Centre-forward is the toughest position at the club and they’re both good lads, with pace and strength.”

Joleon Lescott atoned for his decisive own goal at Chelsea on Tuesday by netting the winner in the 31st minute on Saturday.

“It was good for Joleon and I think that’s six goals for the season,” said Moyes. “The likes of Tony Adams and Derek Mountfield used to get 10 a season. Joleon’s certainly capable of that so I hope he does it by the end.

“He was sore after Chelsea but his performances have been so good. I told him if he was down, everyone should be.”

Of the goal – his first since netting at Metalist Kharkiv in October – Lescott said: “It’s been a while but I like to divide them out through the season and I’m grateful whenever they come. But I was also just as happy with the clean sheet.”

Mikel Arteta returned from his three-match suspension, and Moyes added: “Mikel was good. I felt with him on the ball we made things happen but we need players around him too.”