Moyes hails Everton after win

Posted Sunday, November 08, 2009 by PA

David Moyes hailed Everton's resilience after they battled to a first Barclays Premier League win since the end of September with a 2-1 victory at West Ham, who slip back into the bottom three.

Louis Saha returned to the starting XI after he missed the midweek Europa League defeat to Benfica with a calf problem, and the French striker netted from 20 yards against the run of play on 26 minutes, which continued his fine scoring record against the Irons.

Teenager Dan Gosling added a second just after the hour, but the Hammers made a fight of it following an own goal by Tony Hibbert.

"We have not played that well, so we cannot ask for any more," said Moyes.

"When it was 2-0, I felt we had shored it up with nearly a perfect away performance where you have got the goals, but did not play that well.

"The key is always to find a winning formula, and today we have found one. But we need to play better than we have done.

"At the moment, we are lacking just a bit of quality. October was a tough month, with probably too many matches for the same group of players.

"Nevertheless, I thought they showed great character to hang in there at the end of what has been a difficult period for them."

The defeat ended the Hammers' revival, which had seen them unbeaten for three matches after securing a morale-boosting win over Aston Villa at Upton Park last Wednesday night through a last-minute goal from Zavon Hines.

The England Under-21 forward was rewarded with a start today following injury to Carlton Cole, and looked lively.

However, the 20-year-old missed two good chances to draw West Ham level after Hibbert had inexplicably booted a chip from substitute Junior Stanislas into his own net as the ball trickled towards the line.

Italian playmaker Alessandro Diamanti - who had helped turn the game against Arsenal last month, when West Ham recovered from 2-0 down to earn a draw - also made an impact from the bench, forcing Tim Howard into a fine save from his curling free-kick.

Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola once again could not fault his side's effort, but admitted he was at a loss to comprehend another defeat.

"It is a big question mark for me, how can we lose a game like that," he said.

"We have to analyse the problems first and find solutions.

"I felt the players gave everything. Their attitude and their commitment was very good.

"But we have to find out straight away what is not working well, because it is not doing us any favours."

Zola's men face fellow strugglers Hull after the international break.

"What can you do? We probably need to show even more desire," Zola said.

"When I look into things I can only see the team tried until the end.

"We are making mistakes, but we are fighting and we want to change things."

The Hammers boss added: "I am not worried because I think we can certainly improve the situation.

"We are going to fight until the end and we will find the solutions and we will finds them as quickly as possible.

"I am confident and I trust the players.

"We are determined to make things different, and that is what matters."

Zola, meanwhile, has not yet given up hope of seeing striker Dean Ashton back playing again.

The 25-year-old is battling to recover full fitness from an ankle problem, the origins of which stem back to an injury while on England duty after his appearance in the 2006 FA Cup final.

Reports have suggested the former Norwich striker, signed for #7million in January 2006, was set to retire, and seek compensation from the Football Association.

Zola said: "Until someone tells me he is not going to make it, I am still confident he is going to come back.

"For the boy and for us we hope he will make it. I can't say more than that.

"Dean is working his way back on his own and with his own physio. I don't know when I will hear anything."