Everton ease towards the safety zone

Everton 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Everton manager David Moyes insisted his side were now looking at the top half of the Barclaycard Premiership table rather than over their shoulders at the relegation zone after a 3-1 win over Tottenham tonight.

Everton manager David Moyes insisted his side were now looking at the top half of the Barclaycard Premiership table rather than over their shoulders at the relegation zone after a 3-1 win over Tottenham tonight.

First-half goals from David Unsworth, Gary Naysmith and Joseph Yobo set the Toffees up for a comfortable second half, with Stephen Carr pulling one back for Spurs before the Irishman was sent off for two bookable offences.

It has been a difficult season for Moyes, who steered Everton to seventh place last season and is hopeful a run of wins at the end of this season can bring a disappointing campaign to a positive conclusion.

"I've been saying all along that we should keep looking up and aim for the same points tally as last year," the Scot told Sky Sports Premiership Plus.

"I certainly believe the players are good enough to be in that position, but the table doesn't lie.

"I will be delighted when we get points to be safe and this result goes a long way towards doing that, but we shouldn't be a side just struggling year in, year out and we need to try and turn that around.

"You have to think, 'do you put up with it?' I don't want to put up with it, I want to be managing one of the teams at the top of the league."

Goalscorer David Unsworth added: "I think as regards to closing down, work-rate, making chances and finishing chances it was great, it was a big win for us.

"Our home form's been excellent, away from home we haven't picked up as many points as we would like but hopefully now we can win a few more games and push up the league.

"It was a big, big win for us, it gives us a bit of breathing space and hopefully we can have a good end to the season."