Moyes has plenty of positives after loss

Aug 17 2004 By Mark Lawrenson, Daily Post

PHEW - welcome back to the Premiership!

After being whacked 4-1 at home by an impressive Arsenal team, it is up to David Moyes (right) to try and find the positives of the performance.

I believe there were quite a few, as the team gave their all and worked exceptionally hard. Even if you are given a chasing at home, it will have had a positive effect on their match fitness because they did so much running after the ball.

On top of that, you are hardly likely to come up against teams as good as Arsenal every week.

To emphasise that point, next up is Crystal Palace away and West Brom at home.

It is against teams like that where Everton will secure their survival in the Premiership and I would expect nothing less than four points from those matches, and hopefully six.

They have more than enough about them to not get beat at Palace and if you can't beat West Brom at home, then you do not deserve to stay up.

On top of that, I was pleased to see that Bill Kenwright has managed to come up with some money, although I worry it may be too little, too late.

Still, with someone like Robbie Savage or Michael Carrick brought into midfield thanks to some extra funds and Wayne Rooney back up front, it suddenly looks like a different Everton team and the gloom around Goodison Park would be dispersed.

Fingers crossed, they will be able to bring in reinforcements and make a real mark over the next few weeks.

• Mark Lawrenson was talking to NEIL MACDONALD