Moyes Praises Recovery

Blues boss proud of side’s character in Merseyside fightback.

David Moyes praised his side following their fightback following the 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

Finding themselves 2-0 down within 19 minutes of the 219th Merseyside derby, Everton struck back with goals from Leon Osman and Steven Naismith.

But for the goalkeeping of Brad Jones and the withdrawal of the dazzling Kevin Mirallas, Moyes believes the Blues could have ended the game with three points as opposed to one.

In the end the manager admitted he was satisfied with a share of the spoils.

"We got off to a terrible start," he admitted.

"But it was a great recovery. We showed great character. I was a bit disappointed we didn't come in 3-2 up at half-time. I thought we just about earned that.

"Kevin Mirallas was outstanding. He was fantastic in that 20-minute period up to half time. He was nearly unstoppable and was unlucky not to score. He was very good so it was a big blow for us not to have him for the second half. I think he went over on his ankle, but I don't know exactly."

A typically heated affair only grew more fierce when Luis Suarez celebrated his assist for Leighton Baines' own goal by performing an exaggerated dive in front of the dugouts, seemingly in response to pre-match comments from the Blues boss.

After the game, Moyes was all smiles about the incident but far less so about the Uruguayan's late challenge on Sylvain Distin.

He said: "The celebration was great. I actually quite liked that - it was the sort of thing I might have done if I had scored. I was going to do it if we'd scored a third!

"But I've got to say he was a really lucky man to stay on the pitch today for his tackle."

There was more controversy in stoppage time when Suarez thought he had grabbed a late winner.

The forward poked home following a knockdown, only for the visitors' celebrations to be halted by an offside flag.

"It was a goal," Moyes admitted.

"But I've got to say I didn't think it was a foul on Steven Gerrard in the middle of the pitch, so I think that was the wrong decision, but it was also the wrong decision not to give the goal.

"Overall, I thought we played very well and we were a threat. It was a good open game and we had quite a lot of moments where we could have scored again."