Moyes: Toffees on quality street - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Moyes: Toffees on quality street

David Moyes believes that his desire to add flair to Everton's work ethos is the reason they are flying in Europe.

The Everton boss saw his team set a club record score in Europe with their 6-1 thrashing of Brann that sends them into a UEFA Cup last-16 clash with Italian giants Fiorentina next month.

Moyes said: ``We have a different style these days, and that takes time to happen. We have always had the work and graft but we have added ability and quality and it is all coming together well now."

There were times only recently that Everton were dismissed as long-ball battlers. But after winning their seventh successive European game, another club record, Moyes can see a different Toffees team emerging.

Ayegbeni Yakubu with a hat-trick, Andrew Johnson with a double plus Mikel Arteta's strike saw Everton to victory and an 8-1 aggregate success over the outclassed Norwegian champions.

Moyes added: "We are getting better footballers into the team and that is showing now. The basics, the foundations, are in place and we wanted to add the flair and attacking quality.''

Yakubu took his haul for the season to 15, with his second treble of the campaign - the first came in December against Fulham.

The Nigerian is now in sight of Peter Beardsley's 1992 haul, the last Everton player to score 20 in a season.

And he is only the third Everton player to score a European hat-trick, following Andy Gray in 1985 and Alan Ball in 1970.

Moyes said: ``I am really pleased with the performance and the goals we scored. We could have had more, we hit the woodwork twice and played some excellent stuff."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?

Hazard warning

What makes Chelsea and Arsenal target Eden Hazard tick?
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon