Everton manager David Moyes says he expects more improvement from his players, but insisted they must not lose their good habits that have seen them win four of their last five Premier League games.
Moyes’ side beat Crystal Palace on Saturday, with new signing Carlos Alcaraz shining as he supplied Beto for the first before scoring himself with less than 10 minutes remaining to claim all three points.
It meant Everton climbed the table once again as they now sit 13th in the Premier League table having been relegation-bound before Moyes was reappointed last month.
The Scotsman had praise for his side’s performance but, having narrowly won thanks to Alcaraz’s late goal, he says he expects more improvement.
“I want to start believing we can be better now. I want more improvement from the players as well,” said Moyes. “I want them to play better when we can but I don't want to lose the good habits we’ve got – being tough, resilient, committed.
He added: “All the things that, when you’re not quite so good, you’ve got to make sure you do good at.”
Moyes: I was really pleased with Alcaraz
Alcaraz, who joined Everton less than a fortnight ago from Brazilian side Brazilian side Flamengo, proved to be an adequate replacement for the injured Iliman Ndaiye and Abdoulaye Doucoure, who served a one-match ban after being sent off in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
And Moyes was grateful that he didn’t take the midfielder off despite him appearing to struggle with cramp half way through the second period.
Moyes said: “We played him today and I think that he’s done great for us, he got the goal and I thought he’d started to tire half way through the second half, it looked like he was getting cramp.
“Luckily, I didn’t take him off because he got the goal after that and then we decided to change. I was really pleased that he made a good start because we’re so short of players at the moment and we just can’t afford any more injuries or we’re really struggling then.”
Despite picking up three points, Moyes wasn’t all that impressed with his side’s performance based on recent comparisons, but was reassuringly celebrating the fact he is seeing constant improvement among his squad.
Moyes pleased with resilient month of progress
It’s the fourth game that Moyes has won across his seven
since returning to Merseyside and, given they are almost guaranteed to avoid relegation, is really pleased with the way his players have played across the last month.“I didn't think the performance was great but it's great to see an improving team getting another win because it was really important for us,” Moyes said. “I didn't think we played at our best, I think Wednesday [against Liverpool] took so much out of us today and it was just as if we were fighting to get the goal early that gave us a chance and then we conceded after half time.
“I was annoyed with them because I didn't think they played well in the first half and I wanted us to play better.
“I thought we got a bit better even though we conceded a goal, I thought we got a bit better but it took a real resilient performance to make sure that we didn't concede a second goal because Crystal Palace kept the ball alive, kept putting it back into the box, put us under pressure a lot and fortunately we got a goal which got us the victory.
“I thought they could come back and get it because it looked as if we could’ve folded at that point. It was daft that we conceded the goal right after half time but the players have been fantastic, the resilience to stick at it.
“They deserve a great deal of credit and they’re getting it. The supporters are cheering for their efforts because they’re committed, they’re determined, they're putting their body’s on the line and we’re getting the results from it at the moment.
“I think it’s great and I’m really pleased with them.”
