David Moyes has praised his Everton side for their response to a shattering defeat that could have wrecked their season.

Since Everton’s stoppage-time home defeat to Aston Villa on December 7, Moyes’ side have gone five games unbeaten without conceding a goal.

And in that time they have come to terms with the loss of four strikers and been forced to play midfielder Tim Cahill up front.

Now Everton are in sixth spot in the Barclays Premier League table with the chance to battle for a European place when they could have crumbled after the damaging defeat by Villa.

Moyes’ team now face Hull at home on Saturday before a daunting fixture schedule that includes two away games with Liverpool - one an FA Cup fourth-round tie - and a home match with Arsenal ahead of a trip to face Manchester United on February 2.

The Scot admits the Villa setback looks to have been the turning point in Everton’s season.

"The biggest thing is the reaction since the Villa game," he said. "We could have gone one way or the other after that, it could have affected us.

"But the players deserve a lot of credit for the way they have gone about it since then.

"The clean sheets have helped us because there have been some games when we have been really tight - like at Manchester City, for example - and we have scored late on to win it. Sometimes you have to do that and it is pleasing we can do that."

Moyes is aiming for only Everton’s third home league win of the season against Hull, and claims nobody should now be surprised by the Tigers’ form in their first season in the top flight.

He said: "For a lot of people they have been a surprise package. Their manager Phil Brown has done a really good job.