Moyes: Performances improving April 28 2008
David Moyes believes Everton are returning to the level of performance that made them such a force earlier in the season.
The Toffees fought out a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday to stay ahead of Martin O'Neill's team in the race for a UEFA Cup spot.
Phil Neville and Joseph Yobo twice had the Merseysiders ahead with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew grabbing crucial equalisers.
It leaves the Goodison Park outfit still three points clear of the midlands club in fifth spot, with both teams having two games to play.
Everton travel to Arsenal next weekend and host Newcastle in their last match of the season, while the Villans face Wigan at home and then West Ham away.
Moyes felt his charges deserved more from a tense game as they reclaimed much of the form that got them into the top four earlier in the campaign.
He said: "We needed to get back to the levels we have had earlier this season, so that was good.
"But we have two games left and we are three points ahead. I would rather that position than Villa's. But we have to go to Arsenal next and that underlines how difficult the games are.
"I believe it will go to the last game of the season. We have to get something from our last two games.
"But it is an exciting league. It is exciting at the top, exciting in the race for the UEFA Cup spot and it is exciting at the bottom.
"A few of our lads got back to the levels they have shown earlier in the season. There were good performances and people doing a bit better.
"There is a long way to go to the standards we set earlier in the season. We are getting much closer."
O'Neill hailed his own side's fightback: "To be still in it with two games to go is pretty remarkable for us. Now we have two difficult games.
"Everton's programme is also tough. But my view is that if you are three points clear with two games to go then you are in the sort of position I would like to be in.
"Of course it is going to be tough. We have Wigan next playing with renewed vigour, and we must then go to West Ham while Everton finish at home to Newcastle.
"We had to fight back twice in the second period from a goal down, and I felt it was a brilliant effort by our team."
O'Neill insisted he could not have asked for more from his team, adding: "We have scored a lot of goals this season, mostly through very good play. And in this one we showed great determination to stay alive, and that was particularly pleasing.
"Considering the amount of tactical changes we made, I felt the players adapted very well. We made changes, throwing on attacking players. What was the point in not doing that?
"The lads had fire power and creativity, and we got one equaliser with a lot of forwards on the pitch. Then we went behind again and we had to change tactics almost with each attack in those final minutes.
"But we coped and we deserved something from the game."