Source: Team_Talk
Moyes admires Allardyce effect
The Scot takes his high-flying Toffees to Ewood Park on Wednesday night for a Premier League clash which will potentially have a significant impact at both ends of the table.
Moyes believes his sixth-placed side can still catch Aston Villa in fourth, while Blackburn desperately need to continue the form that has seen them climb out of the bottom three.
Assessing his opposite number, Moyes said: "What Sam has done at Blackburn is only to be expected - he has made them much harder to beat and difficult to play against.
"Blackburn have tightened up all round; they have only lost a couple since Sam arrived.
"Sam has done what he did at Bolton - and he has not taken very long to impose that style and system on their side.
"It will take him time to get the players in he wants, but I have seen signs from them after the game at Hull on Sunday. You can see Sam has put his marker on the team.
"It means it will be a tough game, and a physical game, and we will need to stand up to them."
Everton expect to be without full-back Tony Hibbert for a month following the thigh strain he picked up in the weekend win over West Brom.
It means he could be back for an FA Cup semi-final in April if Everton win their quarter-final on Sunday at home to Middlesbrough.
Teenager Jack Rodwell returns to the squad after missing the West Brom game with a thigh injury, while Mikel Arteta had an operation to repair damaged cruciate knee ligaments yesterday.
Moyes said: "There is a thought to rest one or two, with the FA Cup quarter-final at the weekend. But we do not have that level of resources, and it is not something I can consider to any great degree.
"I do not even think the gap between us in sixth and seventh spot is big enough yet. We know the teams below want to catch us, so we have to maintain our level to stop that happening.
"We are sixth at the moment - and that means a European spot now, after Manchester United's win at Wembley on Sunday."
Moyes admits, though, that he is striving for still better.
"I am looking much higher than that," he said.
"It will be a tall order but not out of reach. If we can maintain our form of the last three months, we will not be far short of fourth or fifth.
"We can still push Aston Villa hard. But it is a tough one, and they are in pole position."
Blackburn 13/8, Everton 7/4, Draw 11/5
