However, the Goodison manager has long been critical of the collective failure for the club to prepare for the start of this campaign, a point he repeated yesterday.

“Someone told me the other day if the season had started in October we’d be in the Champions League places,” said Moyes. “But you don’t, you start in August and you have to be ready.”

Everton aim to keep up the pressure on Villa when they entertain Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon.

The Goodison outfit are looking to complete a first league double over the Londoners since 1986 after Vedran Corluka’s own goal earned a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane in November.

And Moyes believes that victory was a major turning point in his team’s season.

“I thought that win was probably one of the most important wins in terms of where our season has got to,” said the Scot. “We had come off a terrible defeat at Wigan in midweek and it gave us a little belief.

“It happens like that in the season, something can change your season and kick start it but likewise something in the opposite direction, like an injury, can ruin your season.

“But I definitely think it gave us a lot of belief, we played well there and it got us back up and running.”

The defeat left Tottenham only two places above the relegation zone, but under Harry Redknapp the Lilywhites have since also turned around their season, reaching the League Cup final and now pushing for a UEFA Europa League berth.

“We will need to play very well because what Spurs have shown they have got really good football players and are on a good run, they only lost something like one in 20 matches.

“At the beginning of the season we would have taken being ahead of Spurs at this stage, considering what they have bought in, the way they have gone about their work, everyone was thinking they would be in the mix at the top.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Harry. He has done a brilliant job at Tottenham and turned them around since he took over.”

Everton will again be without neck injury victim Tony Hibbert, while both Lars Jacobsen and Leon Osman will have late fitness tests today.