David Moyes warned Everton not to get carried away by ending their winless run with victory at West Ham yesterday.
Goals from Louis Saha and Dan Gosling ensured a first Premier League success in five for Moyes' men and the Scot said: 'We have not played well so we cannot ask for any more. When it was 2-0, I felt we had shored it up with nearly a perfect away performance where you have got the goals but did not play well. The key is always to find a winning formula and we found one. But we need to play better. At the moment, we are lacking just a bit of quality.'
Tony Hibbert's own-goal gave the Hammers hope but boss Gianfranco Zola was left perplexed by the result.
'We have to analyse the problems first and find solutions,' he said. 'I felt the players gave everything.'
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Monday 9 November 2009
World Cup dream appears over for Owen
Michael Owen's World Cup dream appears to be over.
After being overlooked since the friendly defeat in France over 18 months ago, it was expected Owen would eventually force his way into Fabio Capello's England squad after he completed a surprise summer move to Manchester United.
Yet Owen has found a starting spot hard to pin down at Old Trafford. Despite Dimitar Berbatov's absence, he was only on the bench for United's defeat at Chelsea yesterday.
Capello does not feel it is enough to warrant Owen's inclusion, despite citing the striker as "my torment" in a recent interview.
And, after leaving him out of his squad for Saturday's friendly with Brazil in Qatar, it is difficult to envisage that stance changing.
If Owen is despondent, Darren Bent will join up on Tuesday with a clear sense of focus.
Bent has fallen behind Carlton Cole in the battle to be back-up to Emile Heskey as England's main striking target man and not even some fine early-season form for his new club Sunderland, and a ringing endorsement from manager Steve Bruce, had been enough to get him back in - until now.
With Heskey and Cole both ruled out of what will be England's 31st meeting with the most glamorous team in the planet, after which there will be just one game - next March - before Capello must name his provisional squad, Bent has been handed his chance.
Whether the 25-year-old edges ahead of Peter Crouch, who has a remarkable record of 16 goals in 17 starts for his country, is open to question.
However, Capello will probably want to see Bent in action at some stage and the former Tottenham star, who left White Hart Lane is acrimonious circumstances this summer, must not waste the opportunity.
When picking a side to face the five-times world champions, Capello's hardest choice would appear to be at left-back.
Even though he completed the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, Ashley Cole has not been selected, triggering the call-up of Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock.
Normally, Wayne Bridge would be the automatic stand-in for Cole but the Manchester City defender produced a woeful performance against Burnley yesterday.
His poor positioning was highlighted by BBC pundit Alan Hansen for two of the Clarets' three goals, so Warnock, whose international career extends to a single eight-minute substitute appearance in Trinidad last year, might harbour hopes of a starting berth.
Alternatively, Capello may place his trust in James Milner, who has made a big impression on the Italian recently and is apparently capable of filling in at full-back.
Largely, the squad is notable for who is not in it rather than who is.
Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard head a long list of injured absentees, which also includes Cole, David James, whose only appearance for England since last April was as a substitute in the Ukraine last month after Robert Green had been sent off, and Aaron Lennon.
David Beckham was also last night ruled out of England's first trip to Qatar after the Los Angeles Galaxy secured a place in Friday's Major League Soccer Western Conference final with victory over local rivals Chivas USA.
After being overlooked since the friendly defeat in France over 18 months ago, it was expected Owen would eventually force his way into Fabio Capello's England squad after he completed a surprise summer move to Manchester United.
Yet Owen has found a starting spot hard to pin down at Old Trafford. Despite Dimitar Berbatov's absence, he was only on the bench for United's defeat at Chelsea yesterday.
Capello does not feel it is enough to warrant Owen's inclusion, despite citing the striker as "my torment" in a recent interview.
And, after leaving him out of his squad for Saturday's friendly with Brazil in Qatar, it is difficult to envisage that stance changing.
If Owen is despondent, Darren Bent will join up on Tuesday with a clear sense of focus.
Bent has fallen behind Carlton Cole in the battle to be back-up to Emile Heskey as England's main striking target man and not even some fine early-season form for his new club Sunderland, and a ringing endorsement from manager Steve Bruce, had been enough to get him back in - until now.
With Heskey and Cole both ruled out of what will be England's 31st meeting with the most glamorous team in the planet, after which there will be just one game - next March - before Capello must name his provisional squad, Bent has been handed his chance.
Whether the 25-year-old edges ahead of Peter Crouch, who has a remarkable record of 16 goals in 17 starts for his country, is open to question.
However, Capello will probably want to see Bent in action at some stage and the former Tottenham star, who left White Hart Lane is acrimonious circumstances this summer, must not waste the opportunity.
When picking a side to face the five-times world champions, Capello's hardest choice would appear to be at left-back.
Even though he completed the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge, Ashley Cole has not been selected, triggering the call-up of Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock.
Normally, Wayne Bridge would be the automatic stand-in for Cole but the Manchester City defender produced a woeful performance against Burnley yesterday.
His poor positioning was highlighted by BBC pundit Alan Hansen for two of the Clarets' three goals, so Warnock, whose international career extends to a single eight-minute substitute appearance in Trinidad last year, might harbour hopes of a starting berth.
Alternatively, Capello may place his trust in James Milner, who has made a big impression on the Italian recently and is apparently capable of filling in at full-back.
Largely, the squad is notable for who is not in it rather than who is.
Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard head a long list of injured absentees, which also includes Cole, David James, whose only appearance for England since last April was as a substitute in the Ukraine last month after Robert Green had been sent off, and Aaron Lennon.
David Beckham was also last night ruled out of England's first trip to Qatar after the Los Angeles Galaxy secured a place in Friday's Major League Soccer Western Conference final with victory over local rivals Chivas USA.
Hull boss Brown boosts job chances with crucial win
Under-fire Hull boss Phil Brown chose to avoid the media after Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's late winner handed his team a vital win over Stoke.
The Tigers, having won just three times in 33 Premier League games, had seemed destined for another damaging defeat after a first-half strike from Matthew Etherington.
But Brown's side, re-invigorated by the presence of record signing Jimmy Bullard, earned reward for their greater endeavour as Seyi Olofinjana levelled against his former club - and Vennegoor of Hesselink struck moments after Stoke had captain Abdoulaye Faye sent off for a second booking. He does like the spotlight - there's nothing wrong with that - but tonight he's chosen not to,' said assistant manager Brian Horton, when asked about Brown's absence from the post-match press conference. 'He has just come out of the spotlight. He is having a Guinness. Why shouldn't he?'
Horton, however, was more guarded when asked whether he felt, after a week of speculation, the win had saved Brown's job.
'We hope we can now go on a run and nobody talks about stupid things like that,' he added.
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