Source: SKY_Sports
Neville - A long way to go
Everton skipper Phil Neville believes there is still 'a long way to go' before the memory of his side's humiliating defeat to Arsenal is erased.
The Toffees recovered from their 6-1 opening-day loss to the Gunners by cruising to victory against Sigma Olomouc on Thursday night.
Two goals each from Louis Saha and Jack Rodwell easily dispatched the Czech side in the first leg of the Europa League qualifying tie.
Although Neville was extremely pleased with the display at Goodison Park, he concedes that it does not hide the shortcomings of Saturday's performance.
"There is a long way to go but it was more like an Everton performance," the former Manchester United player said.
"The manager asked for a reaction and put us under pressure. He told us in no uncertain terms we had not been good enough and standards at the club were higher than Saturday.
"We got back to basics and were hard to beat. We had to be a team and we were. But we can still improve and still get better.
"The pleasing thing near the end was that there was a bit of a swagger to our play. Our opponents were no mugs and for the first 20 minutes we were a bit nervous.
"But once we scored the first goal we controlled the game and it puts us in a great position to progress to the next stage."
Speculation over the future of Joleon Lescott has dominated headlines at the club during recent weeks, with Manchester City boss Mark Hughes once again reasserting his intention to buy the defender on Friday.
Neville refused to give his own personal opinion on the saga, stating that the ultimate decision will be taken by manager David Moyes.
"As captain, we probably just want an end to the saga. Hopefully we now move on," he added.
"We produced a good performance in this game - it is not a time for saying who is right or wrong. It is just a night to play football; that is what we are paid to do.
"Whatever happens away from the team; that is up to the manager. The speculation is just a side-show."
