Moyes hails Everton entertainers

The Toffees continued their fine start to the Premier League season as they eased to a 3-0 victory over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium thanks to goals from Victor Anichebe, Kevin Mirallas and Marouane Fellaini.

Slow starts to recent campaigns have proved costly for the Merseyside club, with their now familiar strong finish coming just too late to secure European qualification.

But Everton's tally of three wins, a draw and a defeat from the first five games is a match for its start to the 2004-05 season, which saw it qualify for the Champions League.

It is also shaking off its tag as a limited, functional side; Mirallas' second goal against the Swans may be as good a team goal as will be seen this season.

The move started with Phil Neville penned in by his own right-hand corner flag, with superb passes from Fellaini and Steven Pienaar allowing Mirallas to grab his first Premier League goal.

Moyes is finding his team a joy to watch in their current form, but is refusing to get carried away.

When asked what he thought his side could achieve this season, the Scot said: "Pushing for a European place, I think, is a realistic thing for Everton.

"The Champions League would probably be seen as unrealistic with the quality of the Premier League.

"We've missed out on Europe the last couple of years - I think we've been a little bit unfortunate, our league positions would have got you in Europe in some years.

"It's something I think that everyone at Everton would like to get back. But the first thing is always to get 40 points and get yourself safe, so I don't want to get carried away too quickly.

"I'm not a great optimist. I'm one of these ones who doesn't work that way. But I said to the players afterwards, 'I'm enjoying watching you play'.

"There were times at this point last season when I wouldn't have paid to watch us a couple of times. I would definitely pay to come and watch us now."

Swansea had also started the season encouragingly, with big wins over QPR and West Ham, but it was brought back down to earth as Everton taught it a lesson.

Laudrup was surprised by his side's display, particularly in an opening half-hour when it was completely outplayed.

And the Dane has warned his side that a repeat against Stoke next weekend will lead to the same outcome.

"It was a surprise, our first 30 minutes. I did not expect that," Laudrup said.

"We played too slow and it was too easy for Everton to get the ball back.

"We have a team, a way of playing where we are not as strong physically as all the other teams so we have to play faster.

"When we do that we are a very good side. When we don't do it, when we take too many touches or run too much with the ball, then there will be more of a midfield battle and if you are small, not too strong, you will lose these.

"Maybe then when you try to get the ball back, you commit a foul.

"I haven't counted how many but I don't think we have ever given away so many free-kicks in the first 10 minutes like we did in this game.

"Of course, you know every free-kick out there is a chance if you have players like Fellaini. I don't want to talk much about the Stoke game but it will be exactly the same. All the respect and credit to the opponent, but there are a lot of things we have to look at ourselves about and learn from."