IT didn't need the sight of David Moyes going toe-to-toe with Roberto Mancini on Wednesday to underline Everton's renewed sense of fight and purpose.

Like an archetypal scrapper, the Goodison outfit found themselves on the ropes during the opening rounds of this season, dazed, confused and seemingly teetering on the brink.

But now Moyes's side are once again showing they can spar with the best of them after landing a succession of telling blows that have rekindled hope of European qualification.

The latest came at Eastlands, when moneybags Manchester City were put in their place for the second time in less than three months with an outstanding display.

Yet for all the focus on the managerial touchline spat, perhaps the most telling image of the evening came when, after Mikel Arteta had struck the visitors' fine second goal, Moyes raced from his technical area on to the field to embrace skipper Phil Neville.

Such a show of unity embodies the spirit and determination that has proven the foundation for Everton's winter revival.

With only three points now separating the Goodison outfit from a Europa League qualification berth, one battle Moyes would happily lose is that of trying to keep expectations in check of a top-six finish.

But the manager maintains that so small is the margin for error that just one defeat could floor their hopes of a fourth successive European campaign.

“We will just keep going and try to remain competitive, and these players have shown we can do that.” says Moyes, who takes his team to an improving Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon.

“To achieve anything we know we cannot make even one mistake. A defeat now will kill us off, so we must be 100% focused until the end of the season. All we can do is hang in there and try to get some crumbs if anyone falls away.