Moyes not ready to throw in towel

David Moyes vowed to keep Everton battling Liverpool for fourth spot right until the final game following Sunday's 1-0 win over Derby.The Toffees narrow Goodison Park success cut Liverpool's lead over them in fourth spot to three points, although the Reds have a significantly better goal difference.

And for long spells it looked as if relegated Derby would get something from the match which eventually became their 27th successive league game without a victory - a new Premier League record. With Liverpool taking a point at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal on Saturday, Everton went into this clash six points adrift, and in many eyes were already out of the hunt. But Everton boss Moyes remained defiant with five matches of the season left to play after Leon Osman's second-half strike clinched the three points.

"We are optimistic, we believe we can still catch Liverpool," said Moyes. "That's 60 points and we have won 18 games in the Premier League, and with five to go we can end with a very healthy tally in an excellent position. "We are having to push them towards the end of the season, to keep them going. It has been a long, hard campaign. "It was not a terrific display, but we have had some great performances at home this season and are still in with a shout.

"It was a hard game, but the only thing important was three points and another victory. "We can put pressure on Liverpool, and if we do that and win at Birmingham next weekend it will be our highest points tally in the Premier League, that is the first objective."

The Rams has held Everton until the 56th minute when Manuel Fernandes fired a 30-yard pass from the left into the path of Leon Osman running from deep into a huge space in the visitors' back-line. Osman took one touch and lashed his shot past an exposed Roy Carroll. But for Derby boss Paul Jewell it was a hugely improved performance with the club already relegated from the league.

"That was better, in fact it was not just a little better but miles better than when I first arrived," said Jewell. "I felt we deserved a point, we passed the ball really well and we lacked that bit of quality in the box. Maybe a bit of believe, and care at times. But the work we put in was good throughout. "We took the game to Everton, we tried to attack and move the ball.

"Everton started hitting it long, which suited us. We kept the crowd quiet and just needed that little bit extra. "We could have even won it, but it wasn't to be. But the lads were terrific."