Moyes: Too early to scare toppers

30 September 2012 07:48

Everton manager David Moyes admits his side's lofty position in the Barclays Premier League may not be a concern for the title contenders just yet but it would be later in the season.

A 3-1 victory over Southampton, where the Toffees recovered from Gaston Ramirez's first goal in English football thanks to a close-range effort from Leon Osman and two strikes from Nikica Jelavic in a 14-minute period before the interval, put them within three points of leaders Chelsea.

Moyes is keen for people to not get carried away but admitted: "I'd like to be in there, in the mix, during the season but I don't think Manchester United and Manchester City will be worried to see Everton there at this time of the year. They might be worried if in April time we slip to the top of the league."

Everton have equalled their best points haul of 13 from six Barclays Premier League matches from the 2004-05 season - when they went on to qualify for the Champions League for the first and only time.

Moyes added: "I don't think Everton managers can come in here and say 'Let's avoid relegation' but I think that is always the first route for every club and it still is for Everton. The next part is then 'Can we make a European spot and if you are very good can you make the dream spots, the big ones?"

Moyes was pleased with the way his side responded after going behind early on, especially after their disappointing Capital One Cup exit at Leeds.

"We played ever so well at times in the first half but it took us 15 minutes to get going as I felt there was a bit of a hangover from the result in midweek," he said. "But they deserve great credit for going about their job and how well they played. It was great theatre for 30 minutes before half-time and we maybe could have scored more."

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins rued missed chances which would have turned the match in their favour.

"I think we started the game very well and for the first 20 to 25 minutes we have taken the game to Everton," he said. "We scored a good goal from a corner and if Jay Rodriguez had gone in and scored (when clean through) to make it 2-0 it might have been a different final reflection.

"Goals change games and with 25 minutes gone the first real passage of play when Everton put a consecutive period of passes together gave them a goal. The crowd got behind them, they upped their tempo and the second goal came from a counter-attack which changed the complexion of the game."

Source: PA