Moyes eyes Europe after demolition of Fulham

DAVID MOYES hailed his Everton stars after they forced their way into fifth place in the Premier League with a 4-1 hammering of Fulham.

He now believes European qualification is in their own hands.

Carlos Bocanegra’s opened the scoring for Fulham but Lee Carsley and Alan Stubbs got their first goals of the campaign in the first half before youngster James Vaughan made it three just before the break.

Another teenager Victor Anichebe rifled home the fourth with 10 minutes to go after coming on as substitute.

“There is so much confidence from the side, so many of the players have hit top form at the same time,” said Moyes.

“Even when we conceded that early goal it did not dampen our spirits. There is so much belief and it is becoming a real team effort.

“The fact, too, that we are doing this without Tim Cahill, who has been such an important goalscorer for us says it all.

“People like Alan Stubbs and Lee Carsley got their first goals of the season and the kids, James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe were excellent, both scoring good goals.”

He added: “A club like ours should be contesting for a European place every season, and we know we are getting closer. I suppose we will finish in the top 10 now, so we have to keep winning to make sure we reach our objective.

“As for the two teenagers, they play without any fear. They are so young they don’t really know what it is all about yet, so there is a complete freedom about them.”

The one serious problem for Moyes was that goalkeeper Richard Wright jarred his knee in the warm-up and had to be replaced by John Ruddy.

Moyes will assess the situation tomorrow and could recall Iain Turner from Sheffield Wednesday if Wright is likely to be out for any length of time.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman saw his side dragged closer to the relegation drop zone but he remained confident the west Londoners will escape.

He said: “We need that next three points. We have gone seven now without a win and the longer it goes the more difficult it will become.

“But I cannot ask for any more from the lads. They are giving everything, going for every ball and nobody is hiding.

“The fans who travelled up with us could see that, they supported the side throughout and never stopped encouraging. That pleases me, and if we can keep that sort of support going, we’ll be okay.

“I will make sure the team keep giving everything in response to the way the fans are backing us.”

EVERTON: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Osman, Carsley, Neville, Arteta (Naysmith 82), Vaughan (Anichebe 78), Johnson (Beattie 82).

FULHAM: Niemi, Volz, Knight, Bocanegra, Rosenior, Routledge, Davies, Brown, Smertin, Radzinski (John 60), McBride, John (Helguson 71).

Ref: D Gallagher