Everton's Louis Saha shows his courage as well as class

That, for me, was the most heartening aspect of what was a very big win for the Blues.

Saha has always had the quality, but at West Ham he also showed his character and his courage.

It doesn't hurt that at Everton he is surrounded by a group of players who are more than prepared to go into the trenches.

You don't want players to have to turn out if they are carrying an injury, because the likelihood is they won't play to their fullest potential.

But if circumstances dictate that they have to, and circumstances at Everton are pretty unusual at the moment, then it helps to have a core of players' whose attitude rubs off on others in the squad.

There's no doubt Sunday's was a very important win for Everton - especially with another international break following.

Before the game we were three points off the chasing pack of upwardly mobile teams, but equally were only three points off the teams battling relegation.

Now we are comfortably placed in mid-table again to make a move towards the top eight.

If you look at the teams immediately ahead of us in the Premier League table - Fulham, Burnley, Stoke and then Sunderland - they are all the kind of clubs Everton would expect to finish ahead of, and the clubs we have consistently been finishing higher than in recent seasons.

Now we have got within striking distance, it's important we build on that.

There is the sight of cavalry emerging on the horizon from Baz Rathbone's sick bay and when some of the injured players are back we really should be able to kick on.

Sunday, hopefully, could be seen as a turning point in the season.

Lakeland retreat can be cavalry charge for Everton

DAVID MOYES has hinted that he may take his remaining players away to the Lake District during the international break on an outward bound style training camp.

I've been on similar outings with the Blues in the past and can confirm they are definitely worthwhile.

You actually find that you are doing lots of physical work on mountain bikes and in canoes without realising that you're working that hard.

And the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine with a meal in the evening helps people relax and get to know their team-mates even better.

For it to work you need a group of players prepared to get involved in the first place and not enter into the whole exercise with a negative mindset.

But knowing the players at Goodison like I do, there are plenty there perfectly willing to embrace the idea.

Obviously it helps that Everton have just won an away game at one of their favourite hunting grounds - Upton Park - so spirits will be high anyway.

But a couple of days change of scenery up in the Lakes can only help build on that for the rest of the season.

There'll be no repeats of the Benny hell show

THE majority of reports last week seemed to suggest that Everton had been given a footballing lesson over two legs by Benfica.

But I tell you what, given two fully fit squads to choose from, I wouldn't mind drawing the Portuguese giants again later in the Europa League competition.

Sure they're a good side. But I don't think they're any better than a fully fit Everton side.

They caught us at a good time, as simple as that.

Older Evertonians still talk about the time Everton were walloped by Bobby Robson's supremely talented Ipswich Town team at Goodison Park, and manager Gordon Lee staggered supporters when he declared he wanted to meet them again in the FA Cup.

He got his wish granted, and this time Everton were triumphant!

Don't rule out something similar happening in this season's Europa League!