I’LL hold my hands up to this one.

After the dreadful FA Cup defeat to Wigan Athletic two weeks ago, I thought Everton looked as though they had run their race.

The season was over. Finished. Too many players demonstrated as much once it became apparent they weren’t going to Wembley for a Cup semi-final.

David Moyes had to put up with hearing people – including myself – suggesting as much throughout the whole of last week.

So it’s no wonder the Everton manager appeared so delighted at the final whistle against Manchester City.

He wasn’t to know that Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur would both then lose.

I don’t quite think the performance against City was simply seven days too late.

Sure, it won’t keep them in the FA Cup. But it means they are still in with a shout for Europe.

Tottenham and Chelsea can both be distracted by the Europa League with the former short of forward players. Andre Villas-Boas picked a strange team against Fulham at the weekend.

Then there’s also Arsenal, who have picked up in recent weeks but can succumb quite easily to defeat.

Everton have to go to both Tottenham and Arsenal in the next four games, and that’ll go a long way to determining whether a top-five finish is achievable.

Which was the real Everton, then? The one against Wigan or the one against City?

I’d have to say it was the latter.

Marouane Fellaini clearly threw the towel in against Wigan, and while I’m not sure whether it has come from within or from a word by Moyes, you have to take your hat off for his display against City.

Fellaini can’t afford to fall below that level now.