A MONTH ago Everton were just glad to be getting away from the bottom of the table.

But it’s the top end they should be looking towards now – and a top six finish and return to European football is very much on.

I think the victory over Stoke is the clearest indication yet that they are getting the confidence you need to string results together.

It’s been said before that Everton only start playing when the clocks go back – but if this is the start of one of those great unbeaten winter stretches that have served them so well in recent seasons, then nobody will be complaining about that.

The recent results against Liverpool and Spurs will have given them great heart, especially after it took them so long to get off the mark with their first win of the campaign.

But the real mark of a team is one that can win when the onus is on them to take the game to the opposition and live up to their tag as favourites.

Stoke are one of those sides you have to battle against every time and sometimes you have to be prepared to sneak a 1-0.

Everton did just that and they also got that little bit of luck that every side needs – something which they were sorely lacking earlier in the season.

Now it’s their turn to get some things going their way, so fair enough.