Everton FC News: Angry Everton manager David Moyes slams his players’ attitude after costly defeat at Hull

Nov 26 2009 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Everton FC News: FURIOUS David Moyes slammed the attitude of his players and admitted Everton could be dragged into a relegation fight this season.

The Goodison manager was left berating his team’s performance as they crashed to a 3-2 defeat at struggling Hull City last night.

Everton were 3-0 down at the interval following a dreadful first-half showing in which Stephen Hunt, Andy Dawson and Dean Marney all scored for Hull.

Moyes’s side were gifted a lifeline shortly after the restart when Kamil Zayatte sliced into his own net, with Louis Saha then giving the visitors further hope by netting from the spot for his 10th goal of the season.

But the angry Everton manager refused to draw any encouragement from the fightback and instead pointed the finger at their poor first-half display.

It meant a first defeat to Hull since December 1952 on the day it emerged Everton’s planned ground move to Kirkby has been rejected by the government.

“We didn’t play well enough to win,” said Moyes. “That about sums it up, really.

“We can’t take any encouragement from the fightback in the second half. The team should fight from the first minute, not the 45th minute.

“I actually thought we started the better in the opening 10 minutes, but from the first cross they put in they scored. The second goal was a very harsh free-kick, but that’s making excuses.”

Moyes added: “We could be dragged into a relegation fight, particularly because of the injuries we have and individual performances. I don’t know if we are too strong to go down.

“But I’m the one who has to take responsibility for the team. I pick the team and I signed them. I’m the one who has ultimate responsibility.

“I didn’t think the defeat was anything to do with (a lack of) confidence, it was to do with endeavour and attitude which I think Hull City showed. We didn’t match that. Hull did things that earned them a little bit of luck at the right time. They had a ricochet for the first goal, but they put the ball into the box to get that.

“They ran around and it earned them something at the end of the night.”

Everton have now won just one of their last 11 games and go into Sunday’s derby on the back of two defeats in five days.

Liverpool have registered only two wins in a similar period, but Moyes said: “I only look at Everton’s form, I’m not concentrating on other teams. I know we have to do better.

“The first thing you do as a player is you run around, but I’ll need to get them to do that more than they are at the moment.”

Steven Pienaar at least offered some cheer by playing 90 minutes on his return to action after two months out, although that was tempered by a groin problem for Jack Rodwell.

“Getting Steven Pienaar back was a positive,” said Moyes. “We had hoped to play him for 65 minutes but we had to leave him on longer.

“Now Jack Rodwell has suffered a groin injury but we’re not sure whether it will make him a doubt for the derby.”

Hull manager Phil Brown moved to defend the beleaguered Moyes and is convinced Everton’s season will turn once their injury concerns ease.

He said: “There’s no doubt in my mind Everton are a top side and will be challenging for a European place. Everton have strength in depth.

“It is being tested at the moment and Davey has made reference to the injuries, but to able to boast Gosling, Jo and Hibbert on the bench shows a real strength.

“They have 11 players missing through injury or suspension and any team would struggle with that.

“I know Davey, and he is strong willed and a strong character and he will get his just rewards this season.”