Moyes dismisses crisis talk

Everton boss stays calm

Last updated: 4th October 2008

Moyes dismisses crisis talk

Moyes: No crisis

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Everton manager David Moyes has played down talk of a crisis at the Merseyside club.

The Toffees have endured a tough spell after losing the Merseyside derby whilst also bowing out of the Carling and Uefa Cups.

Everton have also failed to keep a clean sheet this term, but Moyes is not panicking ahead of their home meeting with Newcastle, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

"[Newcastle] is a really important game that we want to win because if we do we will have a similar points total as we had last year," he said.

"From that point of view it will give us the feeling that maybe we can have a season similar to the last one.

"Okay we are out of the cups which is not good but there will always be difficult periods, I have had them before and I am sure I will have them again.

"We have not started as well as we like and we have got reasons rather than excuses for that but I think players are coming back into form and we are getting players back from injury - so there are signs that we are going to play better."

Backing players

Moyes is refusing to attack his players after their poor run of form.

"The players I have got here are terrific," he said.

"They're really keen, conscientious about their work, disappointed when they don't win and the players are really good.

"They showed a great attitude to try and turn it around [against Standard Liege] and they are trying to make things better.

"I know we got knocked out but I thought they played with more confidence and played better.

"I was more pleased with that performance than any other this season so that is a positive and we need to use that in the Newcastle game and try and get three points from it."