Source: Telegraph
David Moyes celebrates anniversary in style as Everton
There were little more than a few crumbs of second-half comfort for Stoke, whose quest for a win on their travels continues. [LNB]This victory marked Moyes's seventh anniversary of arriving from Preston and rarely since that day has the Goodison outlook appeared brighter. They have a Wembley day out against a suddenly not so invincible Manchester United in a month's time and continuing consolidation of a top-six placing may lead to to European football next season. [LNB] Related ArticlesTelegraph player rater[LNB]David Moyes in seventh heaven at Everton[LNB]Uefa Cup: Everton ride luck against Metalist[LNB]Everton in FA Cup semi-final not good enough, says Phil Neville[LNB]David Moyes' unhappy Everton anniversary[LNB]Everton resistance broken by Fiorentina[LNB]Stoke, however, have not managed an away win all season and manager Tony Pulis must now be banking on their fighting form in the Potteries holding through the closing stages of the season. [LNB]And there was little sign of any resistance in the early stages at Goodison as Everton swept quickly to a commanding advantage. Steven Pienaar and Leon Osman had already given Stoke due warning and on 18 minutes, Marouane Fellaini, newly resplendent in braids after ditching the afro hairstyle, fed Jo, who shot low into the far corner for the third goal of his short Everton career. [LNB]Six minutes later, Tim Cahill rose to meet Leighton Baines's cross. Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen could do no more than palm the header down for Joleon Lescott to tap in and even the raucous Stoke followers were silenced. [LNB]Yet any thoughts that Everton could coast through the rest of the afternoon were dispelled seven minutes into the second half when Ryan Shawcross glanced in Liam Lawrence's corner. It was the first goal Everton had conceded in five League games and suddenly, deprived of the stabilising influence of Cahill, who had departed at half-time with a slight calf strain, Moyes's men were finding a revitalised Stoke a rather different proposition. [LNB]It was, however, Everton who finished the stronger. Pienaar twice went close and as the clock ticked into overtime, Fellaini shot past Sorensen. [LNB]
