Stylish Everton offer joy to David Moyes with victory over Swansea
Swansea City 0 Everton 3
Monday 24 September 2012
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David Moyes admits he is thoroughly enjoying watching his Everton team as he targets a return to European competition.
His side continued their fine start to the Premier League season as they eased to a 3-0 victory over Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals from Victor Anichebe, Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini.
Slow starts to recent campaigns have proved costly for the Merseyside club, but Everton's tally of three wins, a draw and a defeat from the first five games is a match for their start to the 2004-05 season, which ended in qualification for the Champions League.
They are also shaking off their tag as a limited, functional side; Mirallas's second goal at Swansea may be as good a team goal as will be seen this season. The move started with Phil Neville penned in by his own right-hand corner flag, with superb passes from Fellaini and Steven Pienaar allowing Mirallas to grab his first Premier League goal.
Moyes is finding his team a joy to watch on their current form, but is refusing to get carried away. When asked what he thought they could achieve this season, the Scot said: "Pushing for a European place, I think, is a realistic thing for Everton. The Champions League would probably be seen as unrealistic with the quality of the Premier League.
"I'm not a great optimist. I'm one of these ones who doesn't work that way. But I said to the players afterwards, 'I'm enjoying watching you play'.
"There were times at this point last season when I wouldn't have paid to watch us a couple of times. I would definitely pay to come and watch us now."
Match facts
Swansea: VORM 7/10; RANGEL 6; TATE 5; WILLIAMS 5; DAVIES 5; ROUTLEDGE 6; DE GUZMAN 5; MICHU 6; KI 6; HERNANDEZ 5; GRAHAM 6
Everton: HOWARD 7; BAINES 7; HEITINGA 7; JAGIELKA 7; COLEMAN 7; PIENAAR 7; NEVILLE 7; MIRALLAS 8; FELLAINI 8; ANICHEBE 9; PIENAAR 7
Goals: Everton Anichebe 21, Mirallas 43, Fellaini 82. Subs: Sw Dyer (Pablo, 45), Britton 6 (Tate, 55), Shechter (Graham, 71). Ev Naismith (Mirallas, 71), Oviedo (Fellaini, 85), Gueye (Pienaar, 85). Booked: Sw Williams, Ki, Dyer, Rangel, Michu. Ev Osman. Sent off: Sw Dyer (58). MOTM Anichebe. Match rating 8/10. Poss: Swansea 49%. Ev 51%. On target: Sw 4. Ev 11. Ref A Taylor (Manchester). Attendance 20,464.
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