Moyes wary of another Cup upset

DAVID MOYES fears two of his countrymen are about to gang up on him and inflict a repeat of his worst day as Everton boss.

Mention the FA Cup to Moyes and the Scot quickly recalls the nightmare afternoon his side endured two years ago at Shrewsbury when the minnows inflicted a hugely embarrassing third-round defeat on the Toffees.

Moyes, who will have £6m record signing James Beattie primed for his debut at Plymouth today, January 4, 2003 is still very much an open wound and something he is determined will never happen to him again.

Should Plymouth pull off another shock, Moyes will never be allowed to forget it by two fellow Scots, Bobby Williamson and Jocky Scott, who are manager and assistant at Home Park.

Moyes played against Williamson many times while playing in Scotland, while Scott was his manager during a spell at Dunfermline.

Moyes said: “We have done well in the league and now we want to focus on the FA Cup because people will think we have a decent chance considering our overall form this season.

“You have to get through these first rounds, only after that you can start really thinking about the trophy. That is what we all want but we know this will be a blood and thunder game.”

They will be without the suspended Duncan Ferguson and probably midfielder Steve Watson with a stomach upset. But in Beattie they have a new signing determined to impress.

He said: “I am delighted to be registered in time to play,. I am desperately looking forward to being involved and being part of what I saw when we beat Portsmouth on Tuesday.