Moyes Rues Late Lapse

Blues boss admits Norwich leveller is hard to take.

Manager David Moyes rued his side’s inability to hold onto a narrow lead as Everton saw two points slip away against Norwich City.

After Steven Naismith had lashed home an 11th-minute opener, the Blues squandered a number of chances to kill the game off, and paid the price as an improving Canaries side snatched a late leveller through Sebastien Bassong.

Speaking after the game, a frustrated Moyes said: “It’s hard to take. But that is the nature of the Premier League – Norwich were always in the game even at 1-0.

“I thought we played well for the first 25, 30 minutes and controlled the game. But give Norwich credit, they grew into it.

“I thought we managed to get through a spell of pressure from them at the start if the second half and were probably more likely to go on and make it 2-0 rather than them equalising.

"But they did and we only came away with a point. Was it a free-kick? No.”

The Blues boss was unsurprised with the resiliency shown by the visitors, who arrived at Goodison off the back of a momentous 1-0 win over Manchester United. “Norwich have had some good results,” he added.

“It was always going to be tight. Norwich have been playing well and I never thought we would have win it comfortably.”

He was, however, pleased with the form of goalscorer Naismith, who notched his second goal in consecutive games. “I hoped that he would come here and get us goals,” he said. “If he can finish the season with seven or eight, then that will be a good return from him. He is now beginning to get them so good on him.”