Source: Team_Talk
Moyes: JB's struggles down to me
David Moyes has blamed himself for Jermaine Beckford's slow start at Everton, admitting he did the player "damage" by picking him too soon.[LNB] Beckford finally opened his Premier League goalscoring account by curling home a brilliant late equaliser against Bolton on Wednesday.[LNB]It ended a long wait for the 26-year-old who, after proving prolific at League One level with Leeds, initailly found the step up to the top flight difficult after his summer move from Elland Road.[LNB]Moyes said: "It's a big leap, two divisions - it is a big thing we are asking him to do.[LNB]"What I didn't want was a lot of media putting pressure on him to come into the team and score goals.[LNB]"But it wasn't the media, it was me. That is why I took responsibility.[LNB]"I put him in the team at the beginning of the season for different reasons - (Ayegbeni) Yakubu wasn't ready, we had a couple of injuries.[LNB]"I think I probably did him a bit of damage. I think I should have waited a bit longer and got him off the bench, given him 20 or 30 minutes to get used to it.[LNB]"But what he did the other night is what everyone knows he is capable of - he scored a really good goal.[LNB]"I think scoring your first goal for any club is a big point, certainly a Premier League goal, and he'll feel much better for that, I'm sure."[LNB]Despite Beckford's effort and the return to fitness of Yakubu and Louis Saha, Moyes is still concerned by his team's lack of goals.[LNB]Yakubu's winner against Stoke a fortnight ago is the only other league goal to have come from an Everton striker all season.[LNB]Saha replaced Yakubu in the side on Wednesday - the Frenchman's first start since the opening day of the season - but was unable to capitalise on a number of openings despite an otherwise lively performance.[LNB]Moyes said: "We are creating opportunities without making them into chances.[LNB]"We had opportunities against Bolton but never made the goalkeeper make any saves.[LNB]"We had opportunities to make him make saves but didn't hit the target, didn't shoot or didn't cross at the right time. A little bit of decision-making is part of it."[LNB]The Bolton result came after Everton also had to come from behind to claim a point against Blackpool last weekend.[LNB]But the failure to create and take chances aside, Moyes has been pleased with the performances of his team, who are now unbeaten in seven matches.[LNB]The Scot said: "We might have been better beating Blackpool and losing to Bolton - that would have given us three points rather than two from the two games.[LNB]"But the players showed great character. They never gave up even when we were down to 10 men and came back against Bolton.[LNB]"I have to say well done. They are doing OK, playing OK, without really finishing the games off."[LNB]The Merseysiders now face a tough test against Arsenal on Sunday but Moyes will still concentrate on developing his own team's style rather than worrying about the opposition.[LNB]He said: "I don't think Arsenal will be coming to Goodison trying to stifle Everton.[LNB]"I think they will come and do what we would do, they will play their game.[LNB]"But when you play Arsenal or any other team near the top you have to play well to get a result."[LNB]The Gunners ran out 6-1 winners at Goodison in the first game of last season but Moyes considers that a blip, overshadowed as it was by the Joleon Lescott transfer saga.[LNB]"The first game last season there were other reasons for," Moyes said.[LNB]"The games since then, we played really well at the Emirates against them and the season before at Goodison we played well."[LNB]Moyes has also given his backing to Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, who controversially made 10 changes after their creditable draw against Everton for their midweek clash with Aston Villa.[LNB]Moyes said: "Managers have to do what is right for their club and I don't have a problem with that.[LNB]"It has not got an awful lot to do with the Premier League.[LNB]"They have a good team at Blackpool. They should be praising Ian Holloway rather than in any way trying to criticise him or knock him down."
