HOWARD TARGETS TOP FOUR

Friday 12 December 2008, 14:10
by Adam Clark @adamclark_efc

Tim Howard says slip ups by the top four are driving Everton on.

The goalkeeper believes Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, the current incumbents of the Champions League spots, are all dropping points with greater regularity this season.

As a result, he says there is a growing belief that the Blues could repeat their fourth-place finish of 2005.

Speaking exclusively to evertonTV after being awarded the evertonfc.com Player of the Month award for November, Howard said: "It [the top four dropping points] gives us hope, inspiration and motivation to keep plugging away and keep getting results. We said all along we want to be in the thick of it - sixth, seventh or eighth - so we can push on."

The Blues put their impressive away record on the line at Manchester City on Saturday, with danger man Robinho a major doubt for the hosts.

Howard says he'll be ready to face the Brazilian, should he make it, and believes Everton have every chance of repeating last season's 2-0 win at Eastlands.

"I try not to think about [my opponent]," said Howard. "I think goalkeeping is such a reactive position. You need to have an idea of your opponents but you don't try to read what the team or individuals are going to do. I go into the game, know who I'm facing and leave it at that.

"Our away form has been really good and we go into these away games with a siege mentality. We stick together, work hard, see out whatever they bring at us, then hit them with a counter attack. That seems to have been working and more of the same on Saturday would be fantastic."

On receiving his latest award, Howard said he felt "honoured" to be voted for by supporters, thanking them and his team-mates for their contribution in recent weeks.

"It's always nice to be recognised," he said. "At the end it's nice to think you've put in a good shift and a lot of the other boys have as well, so there could have been a few winners.

"We started out the season very slowly. I think a lot of individuals weren't performing up to a certain standard. We've since - as a team and individuals - got our form back. As a goalkeeper, it's pretty simple; you make a string of saves over the course of a few weeks and you really start feeling like you're ready to do it again. That is what has happened [to me] in the past few weeks.

“The supporters have been fantastic too. I think a lot of people underestimate how important that is."

November's Player of the Month was sponsored by Brittania Building Society.

Click here for ticket information concerning Everton's upcoming fixtures, including the visit of Chelsea.