Moyes: FA Cup is our best road to Europe

EVERTON manager David Moyes believes the FA Cup represents the club’s best chance of a trophy – and a passage into Europe – this season.

Although the Toffees are into the knockout phase of the Europa League, Moyes thinks that particular competition is not far advanced enough for their odds of winning to have reduced considerably.

But with the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool – two teams Everton beat on their run to the final last season – already out, the FA Cup looks a better bet, especially if they can get past fellow Premier League side Birmingham today.

Qualification for Europe currently looks an outside prospect for Moyes’ side as they are 10 points behind seventh-placed Aston Villa.

“The Europa League has got a longer way to go and I think it is really tough for anyone to win it because you have got game after game, home and away,” he said.

“If you get the FA Cup draws at home it could be much easier. Possibly at the moment the FA Cup (is the easier one to win) but there are a lot of good teams still in it.

“The first job is to beat Birmingham because if we don’t do that we don’t go any further but if we do, then you start looking at who we have got next.

“I am driven to go far in all competitions because we’ve not won anything (in his managerial reign).

“If we can make Europe, it is good for us. It has been great for Everton in the last few years and it is good for us at this present time.’’

Meanwhile Alex McLeish admits Birmingham would have to “punch above their weight” to beat the Toffees.

McLeish said: “We know the expectations of supporters have gone up after seeing the way we have played this season and with the new owners making money available for players.

“It’d be marvellous to go to Goodison Park and win but we’d have to be punching above our weight to achieve what Aston Villa have done, although there is nothing wrong in having the vision that you can cause an upset.

“If we can win there, I am sure the belief of the players will go through the roof but realistically it would be difficult for us to win the FA Cup.’’