Five wins from five matches. That is what David Moyes is demanding as his Everton side, once struggling to compete with injuries, now look to make a final push to secure European competition next season.

Everton has been playing catch up since their 2008/9 injury jinx carried through to the current campaign but Moyes has praised his side’s resilience as they effectively played catch up. With the current scenario of the FA Cup still to play out, where finalists Chelsea and Portsmouth are unlike to take up the Europa League spot available for differing reasons, the prospect of seventh in the Premier League being good enough has not eluded the Scot. With the crunch match against Villa, a six-pointer in European terms if ever there was one, Moyes has also given his verdict on Pompey’s current plight. "I was told Portsmouth had not applied to be in Europe," Moyes said. "So if that was the case, they were not a consideration. It will be unfortunate for them but if they had not applied, you cannot say 'We want to do it now'.''