Nobody laughing now as Everton set sights on Champions League spot

YOU cannot wipe the smile from Everton faces now that it is no longer a joke to suggest that they can reach the Champions League.

Everywhere you looked after a sixth 1-0 win of the season, and their seventh Premiership clean sheet, there were people laughing.

From boss David Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright - hugging in the players' tunnel - to the broad grin from veteran keeper Nigel Martyn as he marked his 800th game with another near faultless display. Everton were written off before the season had even started but nobody is laughing at them now. They are third on merit and their ninth win of the campaign matches their total for all of last season.

Duncan Ferguson scored four minutes after coming on as a substitute, and his nodded goal secured deserved victory. With Arsenal and Chelsea both dropping points, Everton's grim, relentless march is closing in on the moneyed classes. Fulham boss Chris Coleman summed it up: "They have twice as many points as us and you don't do that if you are not a good side." What Everton do, they do well. They make the very best of everyone's attributes and mercilessly punish mistakes. It is not pretty but it is hugely effective and they are now being taken seriously.

For Martyn it was a special day. In his 39th year and with a contract ending in the summer, he is arguably England's best current goalkeeper.

The Cornishman says: "I am still enjoying it all and I have no idea how long it will go on, I feel really fit and know I need to keep working but as long as I feel good - and I do - I will carry on playing. It is going to be hard to keep up with the top two in the league with the size of squads that they have, certainly as the season goes on.

"Our lads will start tiring as the season continues, but we will certainly not be giving up on things and still aim to win every game we play."

Tomasz Radzinski could easily have stolen a point, Martyn making one great point blank save and then watching a late drive from his former colleague shave a post.

Coleman said: "Tomasz stuck to it, he was a thorn in their side all the time and could easily have got a couple. He didn't let the stick he was getting from the crowd get to him."

As for his side's ultra-defensive display, he added: "If you play free flowing football, Everton will punish you. We were not hammered but just lost a goal from a corner. But we still feel that we can have a good season. We have three big games in a week coming up, including the Carling Cup quarter-final with Chelsea. And we are 13th in the table and know we can improve a lot on that."