Everton FC jury: EFC fans on the joy of Man City win and pain of Wigan defeat

Everton’s Nikica Jelavic (centre) celebrates scoring their second goal

MATT JONES, Prenton

A SOLITARY victory won’t be enough to fully erase the heartbreak of missing out on an FA Cup semi-final. For Evertonians, qualification for Europe might prove to be the only source of full vindication.

Saturday’s performance against the champions was certainly a step in the right direction. It was particularly encouraging to see fans rally behind the players and manager, especially when you consider the vitriol levied at them following the Wigan debacle.

Moyes has been roundly criticised the past week for his side’s failure to perform in big games. But with a tough run-in approaching, he has an excellent chance prove otherwise.

Trips to Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea are going to be undeniably tough encounters, but they also give Everton four chances to take points off their direct competitors for a European spot.

Everton must use the City result as a springboard.

CHRIS DOUGLAS, Old Swan

JUST when you think you’re out they pull you back in.

After possibly the worst performance of the Moyes era against Wigan they produced that against the champions, the victory was fully deserved which makes the week before even more frustrating. Darron Gibson starting undoubtedly helped, but apart from that how can they go from one extreme to another? The referee was appalling which in many ways helped the team and fans to create the Goodison cauldron effect.

That said, City were dreadful and if Edin Dzeko is a target man then football has gone soft. They were contained with ease, even with 10 men.

The problem Everton have now is maintaining the level achieved on Saturday against the likes of Stoke. The suspensions of Pienaar and Fellaini will not help matters. Let’s all just keep level headed and keep on keeping on.

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