New Everton boss David Moyes issues Aston Villa challenge
David Moyes has urged Everton players and supporters to pull together and make their passion for the club clear when Villa visit on Wednesday night.
The Scot wants fans to “show how much it matters” and help kick off his second stint in charge at Goodison Park with a victory.
Moyes is back in the hotseat 23 years after first taking the job and more than a decade since departing to take charge of Manchester United.
Everton were regular contenders for European football during his first spell at the helm but the 61-year-old has returned with the club just one point above the bottom three and at risk of relegation in their final season at Goodison Park.
Moyes, out of work since being axed by West Ham last summer, believes the remaining home matches will be key to their survival chances and thinks the supporters have a big part to play.
“We've got to leave Goodison in the right way,” he said. “We're under the lights this week against Aston Villa so it would be a great opportunity for all the Evertonians to show how much it matters.
“Not so much about the manager – but what it feels like to be at the club. We're on the verge of a change but hopefully they also know they're bringing someone back who has got great affection for the Club and I'll try to do all the right things between now and the end of the season to make sure we're still a Premier League side.”
Dwight McNeil, who scored the opener in Everton’s 3-2 defeat at Villa Park in September, is missing through injury though striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin could return.
“Part of it is – you players had better turn up,” said Moyes. “I’ve got no doubt the crowd, the people, Goodison, will all play a part.
“The players have to play their part now and show they can handle it. Goodison can be a very fierce arena and they have to go on stage and put on a big act. They have to perform.”
