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David Moyes praises Everton players' attitude after FA Cup victory over stubborn Tamworth
The Scot was pleased with his side for sticking to their task after struggling to capitalise on their early lead and also hinted at transfer movement in January
7 Jan 2012 18:26:00
By David Lynch at Goodison Park
Getty Images
Everton boss David Moyes has praised the attitude of his players after a hard fought 2-0 FA Cup victory over Tamworth.
The Toffees failed to put clear distance between themselves and the Conference National side after Johnny Heitinga's early opener but avoided a nervous ending as Leighton Baines converted a penalty in the 80th minute.
However, boss Moyes was pleased that his side were disciplined after being frustrated by their stubborn visitors.
He said: "Tamworth did really well and kept at it and whilst it was only 1-0 they were in with a chance.
"We missed a few chances to make it 2-0 that would have put it to bed but for neutrals it kept the game alive.
"While it was 1-0 Tamworth could keep running, keep trying to make things happen.
"There was threat from corners and free kicks but in truth I didn’t think there was much and without us playing well I thought we had a level of control to see the game.
"Before today’s game you’re always nervous, worried about a banana skin, but I’ve got to praise the players for their attitude. We didn’t play well but our attitude was very good."
The 48-year-old also explained the idea behind the numerous changes he made to the Everton side which lost to Bolton Wanderers last time out.
"I wanted to try and get some players in," he continued.
"We needed to see how Victor Anichebe and James McFadden were fitness-wise, we wanted to see how the young boy Magaye [Gueye] could do and Landon’s [Donovan] still getting back into it.
"A lot of people have said that [Diniyar] Bilyaletdinov is a central midfielder so we gave him a chance to play in there.
"[Marouane] Fellaini’s back from injury, everyone’s talking about whether Seamus Coleman is a right-back or a right winger so he got a chance to play there.
"I wanted to rest Leighton Baines because I thought even for the 20 minutes that he came on you could see the difference of what a top English player looks like. When he came on he lit up the stage."
The Scot went on to insist he is wary of talking up the importance of a cup run, given the possibility of a tough draw in the next round.
He added: "I think for everybody at Everton a cup run is important but I could say that and tomorrow we could draw Manchester City away and that’s not what you want.
"I said the other day you’re best not talking about cup runs until you’ve got a few rounds through, then you can start looking at what you’ve got."
He also hinted at movement in the transfer window for the Toffees after Seamus Coleman added to the growing injury list at Goodison.
"Coleman looks as if he’s reinjured a thigh strain he’s got," he added.
"Everybody’s going to get injuries, we don’t need any more, but if you’re going to get injuries you might as well get them in the transfer window because you can attempt to do something about it."
Meanwhile, Moyes' opposite number, Tamworth manager Marcus Law, expressed his disappointment at conceding an early set-piece, something his side had worked at on the training pitch.
He said: "There's an element of being very disappointed because we've spent a lot of time on dealing with set pieces and that's where I felt their strengths were.
"Maybe the occasion and a lack of focus in that first five minutes has gone against us but it just shows you what the small margins are in football."
However, he went on to praise his side's commitment, as they ran their Premier League opponents close.
He continued: "I know these boys, they're a feisty group and very mentally strong. I knew that regardless what was going to happen today that we would be able to compete and be able to deal with the occasion.
"You can see that the difference between a mid-table Conference side and an elite Premier League club was a set-piece and a questionable penalty. "
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The Toffees failed to put clear distance between themselves and the Conference National side after Johnny Heitinga's early opener but avoided a nervous ending as Leighton Baines converted a penalty in the 80th minute.
However, boss Moyes was pleased that his side were disciplined after being frustrated by their stubborn visitors.
He said: "Tamworth did really well and kept at it and whilst it was only 1-0 they were in with a chance.
"We missed a few chances to make it 2-0 that would have put it to bed but for neutrals it kept the game alive.
"While it was 1-0 Tamworth could keep running, keep trying to make things happen.
"There was threat from corners and free kicks but in truth I didn’t think there was much and without us playing well I thought we had a level of control to see the game.
"Before today’s game you’re always nervous, worried about a banana skin, but I’ve got to praise the players for their attitude. We didn’t play well but our attitude was very good."
The 48-year-old also explained the idea behind the numerous changes he made to the Everton side which lost to Bolton Wanderers last time out.
"I wanted to try and get some players in," he continued.
"We needed to see how Victor Anichebe and James McFadden were fitness-wise, we wanted to see how the young boy Magaye [Gueye] could do and Landon’s [Donovan] still getting back into it.
"A lot of people have said that [Diniyar] Bilyaletdinov is a central midfielder so we gave him a chance to play in there.
"[Marouane] Fellaini’s back from injury, everyone’s talking about whether Seamus Coleman is a right-back or a right winger so he got a chance to play there.
"I wanted to rest Leighton Baines because I thought even for the 20 minutes that he came on you could see the difference of what a top English player looks like. When he came on he lit up the stage."
The Scot went on to insist he is wary of talking up the importance of a cup run, given the possibility of a tough draw in the next round.
He added: "I think for everybody at Everton a cup run is important but I could say that and tomorrow we could draw Manchester City away and that’s not what you want.
"I said the other day you’re best not talking about cup runs until you’ve got a few rounds through, then you can start looking at what you’ve got."
He also hinted at movement in the transfer window for the Toffees after Seamus Coleman added to the growing injury list at Goodison.
"Coleman looks as if he’s reinjured a thigh strain he’s got," he added.
"Everybody’s going to get injuries, we don’t need any more, but if you’re going to get injuries you might as well get them in the transfer window because you can attempt to do something about it."
Meanwhile, Moyes' opposite number, Tamworth manager Marcus Law, expressed his disappointment at conceding an early set-piece, something his side had worked at on the training pitch.
He said: "There's an element of being very disappointed because we've spent a lot of time on dealing with set pieces and that's where I felt their strengths were.
"Maybe the occasion and a lack of focus in that first five minutes has gone against us but it just shows you what the small margins are in football."
However, he went on to praise his side's commitment, as they ran their Premier League opponents close.
He continued: "I know these boys, they're a feisty group and very mentally strong. I knew that regardless what was going to happen today that we would be able to compete and be able to deal with the occasion.
"You can see that the difference between a mid-table Conference side and an elite Premier League club was a set-piece and a questionable penalty. "
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