In-form Everton harbouring European ambitions

David Moyes and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall believe Everton can make a push for European football after moving fifth in the Premier League.

Everton made it four wins in the space of five games as they comprehensively dispatched Nottingham Forest 3-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

The Toffees took the lead after just 83 seconds as Dewsbury-Hall forced an own goal from Nikola Milenkovic, while Thierno Barry finally opened his Everton account on the stroke of half-time.

Dewsbury-Hall sealed the points late on with a drilled finish. Everton have now won three of their last five home league matches (D1 L1), and Moyes sees no reason not to have lofty ambitions for the season.

“I’m too old now to say we just want to avoid relegation,” Moyes told BBC Match of the Day.

“But I'm not daft enough to say Europe is fully possible, I don’t think we are quite ready. But we will keep knocking at the door.

“I was pleased we kept another clean sheet. I know that sounds negative, but that’s the place to start from. Winning any game in the Premier League is difficult at the moment, and going three ahead late on is good.

“The early goal let us sit in to counter-attack a bit more, and the second goal before half-time is a killer.”

Moyes was also full of praise for Barry, who netted his maiden Toffees goal after plenty of close shaves.

He said: “It’s huge for him, and it was coming, it was certainly due. He’s got to score, when you’re playing centre forward, otherwise we will find someone to replace him.”

Dewsbury-Hall echoed his manager’s sentiments, although with more positivity.

“The way the fans have taken to me is so humbling, and the manager and players, they say we know how good you are, go and express yourself,” the midfielder said. “Now it’s about keeping doing the right things and keeping a level head.

"Of course, Europe is a realistic ambition. The size of the club, the ownership, the stadium, it all shouts European football. A lot can happen, but we are making positive steps.”

The former Chelsea man has now scored three goals in his last four Premier League outings –just one fewer than he managed across his first 82 appearances in the league (four).

Barry, meanwhile, was thrilled to finally open his Premier League account.

“I can’t stop smiling because I scored today,” the striker said. “Before today, I knew I could score. In the last home game I scored, but VAR ruled it out. I went down before the goal, but I knew I had to stay on the pitch and 10 minutes later I scored.”

Former Everton manager Sean Dyche, meanwhile, endured an unhappy return to Merseyside as Forest failed to find the net for the eighth time this season, with only Wolves (nine) having failed to score on more occasions.

“We were nowhere near it on the physical side,” the Forest boss told BBC Match of the Day. “We had the ball in many places, but decisions go against us.

“We’re trying to come here and play, but we didn’t start well. It was huff and puff, a few crosses in with no one near it.

“The players deserve a lot of credit, but they have to fight and play to your shape. We were well short of that.”