David Moyes still upbeat about Everton's Euro ambitions

Apr 28 2008 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

DAVID MOYES believes Everton remain in pole position to qualify for the UEFA Cup despite missing the chance to effectively seal fifth place.

The Goodison outfit were twice pegged back as they were held to a 2-2 home draw by fellow European hopefuls Aston Villa yesterday.

Phil Neville’s deflected 55th-minute effort appeared to have given Moyes’s side a valuable victory until an incredible finale saw three goals in six minutes.

Gabriel Agbonlahor equalised for Villa 10 minutes from time, Joseph Yobo restored Everton’s advantage four minutes later only for John Carew to immediately level the scores again.

With two games remaining, Everton stay three points ahead of Villa in the race for fifth and the one UEFA Cup berth. While Villa entertain Wigan Athletic on Saturday before finishing the season at West Ham United, Everton must travel to Arsenal next Sunday ahead of a final-day encounter at home to Newcastle United the following week.

Moyes is confident his team remain in a “good position” to seal a second successive European qualification.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t stay in front when we twice went ahead,” said the Goodison manager. “I thought when we got the goals we were doing well with good momentum. It was a hard game and we knew it would be. Aston Villa are very strong and in good form now.

“It was a close game, a real cup tie game. Villa have been up there and we’ve been up there all season, so it has been very close. We’ve got two games to go and so have Aston Villa. We’re three points ahead, and I’d rather be in that position than in the other one. I thought if we had got three today we could have secured fifth place but it looks like it is going to go all the way. It’ll be tough, but we are looking forward to the last two games. We are in a good position.”

Of Everton’s forthcoming visit to the Emirates, Moyes added: “It’s not easy getting results at the end of the season no matter who you play. The UEFA Cup means a lot here and we had a great run in it this season. We had 10 games and we won eight, lost just one and drew one.

“We were a little bit unfortunate not to go further in the competition than we did, and we’d like to try and put that right if we could.”

Villa manager Martin O’Neill concurred with Moyes’s view that Everton are still favourites to claim fifth.

“To be still in it with two games to go is pretty remarkable for us,” said O’Neill. “Now we have two difficult games. Everton's programme is also tough.

“But my view is that if you are three points clear with two games to go then you are in the sort of position I would like to be in. Of course it is going to be tough. We have Wigan playing with renewed vigour, and we must then go to West Ham while Everton finish at home to Newcastle.”

Although mathematically still able to catch Everton, Portsmouth’s hopes of finishing fifth were realistically dashed by their 1-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers yesterday.

Neville’s goal was only the third of his Everton career while Yobo opened his account for the season.

Moyes said: “They were good finishes by the defenders and we have needed it because we are lacking in goals up front at this moment in time. I thought we came out of the blocks well. In the first 10 or 15 minutes, if we’d have taken a bit more care with our final pass we could have got through.

“Overall, I was pleased. The performance was much better and the players looked to be getting up close to the level they have been at this season.”

Leon Osman returned to the starting line-up yesterday after missing the last two games with a hip injury, while Mikel Arteta played the last 24 minutes as substitute after arriving back from treatment in Spain.

“Mikel only came back on Saturday and you could tell he’s not match fit,” added Moyes. “I felt maybe at that period of the game we brought him on, he could give us a bit more and help us get the second goal that would have put us 2-0 up at the time.

“Leon I thought did a really good job on his first game back.”