DAVID MOYES believes the dramatic defeat against Aston Villa has proven the turning point of Everton’s season.

Since the injury-time home loss to Martin O’Neill’s side on December 7, Everton have gone five games unbeaten without conceding a goal.

It’s a run that has moved the Goodison outfit into sixth place and set up a mouthwatering FA Cup fourth round derby with neighbours Liverpool.

And Moyes has saluted the manner in which his players responded to what could have been a demoralising defeat to Villa.

“I think the biggest thing is the reaction since the Villa game,” said the Everton manager. “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’ve gone about it since then.

“The clean sheets have helped us because there have been some games when we’ve been really tight – like Manchester City, for example – and we’ve scored late on to win it. Sometimes you have to do that and it’s pleasing we can do that.”

Everton begin a pivotal run of fixtures by hosting Hull City on Saturday before a double-header at Anfield and a home match with Arsenal ahead of a trip to Manchester United on February 2.

Moyes’s men have only won two games at Goodison this season and the manager is braced for a tough encounter against a Hull team that has already won at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season.

“I think for a lot of people they have been (a surprise package),” said Moyes to evertonTV. “Phil Brown has done a really good job. He got them up through the play-offs and he’s kept the momentum going. I know that can happen and he’s certainly done it.

“Their away form is something we’ve got to be wary about. They won at the Emirates and have had some good results away from home. You can’t take anything for granted. We’re beginning to regain our form and we will try to get three points on the board. We always want to keep the level high and performance levels have been improving, so hopefully we’ll win again.”

Meanwhile, Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia has expressed his delight that he chose not to sign for Everton during the summer.