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Moyes hopes Everton can maintain form in Ukraine

Everton's Steven Pienaar celebrates scoring against Middlesbrough during their English Premier League match on Sunday at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England. PHOTO: AP

David Moyes has challenged his Everton players to continue their resurgence in Thursday's crucial UEFA Cup clash against Metalist Kharkiv.

Goals from Joleon Lescott and Steven Pienaar gave Moyes's side a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on Sunday.

It was their second successive victory after a series of disappointing displays and Moyes is determined to ensure they build on that display in Ukraine this week.

He senses his team have turned a corner and is confident they can get the win they need at Metalist after drawing 1-1 in the first round, first leg.

"That's two wins and two clean sheets this week, hopefully we'll get the same in the UEFA Cup on Thursday," Moyes said. "Sometimes you start to smell change and I thought there was that smell today."

"Middlesbrough had a couple of chances in the first half which I'm not happy about but we made some and to tuck them away was good," Moyes said.

Everton had lost their last two league matches but they were ahead within seven minutes as Middlesbrough made a hash of dealing with Mikel Arteta's corner.

The Spanish midfielder's inswinging set-piece was met by Yakubu, who got in front of Mark Schwarzer's weak attempted punch to flick the ball goalwards.

Jon Woodgate headed off the line but his clearance travelled only as far as the unmarked Lescott, who headed home from close range.

Everton extended their lead in the 58th minute and as is so often the case, Arteta was the architect.

He collected Pienaar's pass on the left side of the penalty area, dragged three defenders towards him and then flicked a pass back to the midfielder, who slid in to score his first Everton goal.
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