Moyes hits back at Advocaat's pre-match comments

David Moyes hit back at claims from Dutch coach Dick Advocaat that his Everton side were all “long ball and physical play” after his side beat Russian champions, Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the UEFA Cup last night.

The victory means Everton have won group A with a game to spare and go into the competition’s last 32 knowing they will now avoid the Champions League drop-outs in the knockout stage.

It is clear, though, that Zenit coach Advocaat’s pre-match comments about Everton’s still riled the players – and no doubt Moyes too.

The Scot said: “Our style was excellent, we passed the ball and had gifted technical players who tried to move the ball around on the ground. We had them under pressure right through.

“They had good players, but we had the majority of the best players on the pitch. That is why we got the right result.

“They are Russian champions, Russia put England out of the European finals and there were a lot of their internationals playing for Zenit.

“We did not look out of place, and our players were as good as them if not better.

“Zenit had some very good technical players, but then so did we. Steven Pienaar and Mikel Arteta are excellent and not inferior to any of the Russians, and Joleon Lescott was the best player on the pitch.”

Everton have now gone nine games unbeaten while match-winner Tim Cahill bagged his sixth goal in nine games. It took them time to break down a Russian side who played for an hour with ten men after Nicolas Lombaerts was sent off, but eventually Tim Cahill grabbed a late winner.

Moyes said: “When we saw the group we were drawn in, a top Russian side, a German and Dutch team plus a very good Greek team, we did wonder how we would cope.

“It was a tough group, so for us to win the three games and win it already is terrific.

“We needed to be patient. We have learned a lot with the games we have had in Europe so far.

“We have scored goals late in games in the competition, we do that, and we thoroughly deserved to win this one.

“And that after missing a penalty, but we had them constantly under pressure.

“They were unlucky with the penalty and the sending off, at the time I could not see it but now I have watched the replay on TV the ball looked to hit the lad’s body, it didn’t look like hand-ball.

“It hit his body and thigh so Zenit were definitely unlucky over that, and it cost them a player too.”

Everton now have a ’dead rubber’ match later in the month away to AZ Alkmaar, and Moyes said: “We are new in Europe, we are enjoying it, so it is right and proper that we go about the games in a correct manner.

“We cannot pick and chose when we decide to win matches, so whether we are through already or not, we will approach the AZ match in the right way.

“We will put out a strong side. But we are by then in the middle of a very busy Christmas period with league and other cup ties too, so it will give me the opportunity to have a look at one or two other players.”