David Moyes full of praise for Marouane Fellaini

Former Standard Liege midfielder Fellaini supported Cahill while Mikel Arteta pulled the strings in the centre of the park and Segundo Castillo also played his part in the holding midfield role in his first start for almost three months.

Moyes said: "Fellaini was a big influence. I think they found him difficult to deal with.

"He showed composure on the ball and was a threat physically. He looks as though he has a goal in him.

"He can go box to box and is doing really well.

"There was a lot of movement. I thought Mikel Arteta was fantastic, as was (Marouane) Fellaini backed up by Tim Cahill, Castillo.

"Arteta was terrific. We know all about his skill but he did it all, he defended when he had to and stayed with them.

"A win was deserved. There is no doubt that City are talented but Everton were the better side. It looked as if it was going to be 0-0 but credit to the players as they got a goal."

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Moyes was thankful for Cahill's injury-time intervention - and admitted he may rely on more of them while he waits for Anichebe and Louis Saha to regain fitness and boost his forward line.

"You always judge Tim by his goals but his work-rate was tremendous. He did a terrific job," said Moyes.

"I don't think Louis will be too long. Victor was unavailable because of his back and hamstring but I couldn't tell you how long they will be out.

"We are very limited in terms of what we can do to change things around but if they can keep playing like that, I'll be happy. I think when you lose the way we did to Aston Villa last week you can go one of two ways, you can either go under or do what we did today.

"It took us a few days to get over Villa but I thought we deserved to win after playing so well. They're great lads and I am delighted with them.

"We had no fit strikers but I thought we did really well and I thought Cahill did a great job for us in several positions and topped it all with a goal."

City manager Mark Hughes admitted Cahill had given his side constant problems.

"He was excellent and messed us around. He did a real job for his team," said Hughes.

City are now closer to the Coca-Cola Championship than Europe, and although Hughes appears calm about their standing in the table, he wants his players to raise their game before the new year.

Struggling West Brom are next up followed by over-achieving Hull and then his former club Blackburn, who are in danger of the drop.

Hughes said: "We played a lot in and around their box but we need that physical threat, that desire to get on the end of things when balls are flashing across the six-yard box.

"We need to show a little bit more personality on the ball. We should never have lost to Everton so we have to put it behind us.

"There are games coming up where we need to start putting points on the board."