ToffeeWeb - Battle Against the Drop, 2001-02

Battle Against the Drop, 2001/02

Well, it didn't take long for the impact of David Moyes' appointment and the breath of fresh air it brings to take effect on the field. Just 48 hours into his new job, Moyes registered his first win as 10-man Everton overcame Fulham 2-1 to pull three points clear of the drop zone.

While Ipswich were mercifully pegged back by Newcastle with two minutes to go in a 2-2 draw and Derby were pulling Bolton apart at the Reebok Stadium on their way to a 3-1 win, the Blues withstood a full half of almost constant pressure to register a priceless win that puts them just seven points short of the magic 40-point goal.

The next game against Derby at Pride Park was no less crucial because of it and Moyes's side will breathe a little easier this week after securing their first away victory since the opening day of the season. The defeat for Fulham and Sunderland's failure to win at Chelsea or at home to Southampton puts these two clubs into the relegation frame with 8 games remaining.

Everton (36)	Blackburn (32)	Ipswich (32)	Bolton (33)	Derby (29)
Fulham (H) 2-1 Derby (A) 4-3 Newcastle (A) Bolton (H) Chelsea (A) Leicester (H) Southampton (A) Blackburn (H) Arsenal (A)	Ipswich (H) 2-1 Leeds (A) 1-3 Newcastle (H) Leicester (A) So'ton (H) Liverpool (A) Chelsea (H) Middlesbro (A) Everton (A) Fulham (H)	Blackburn (A) 1-2 Newcastle (A) 2-2 A Villa (H) 0-0 West Ham (A) Chelsea (H) Bolton (A) Middlesbro (H) Arsenal (A) Man United (H) Liverpool (A)	Derby (H) 1-3 Charlton (A) 2-1 Aston Villa (H) Everton (A) Ipswich (H) Fulham (A) Tottenham (H) Arsenal (H) West Ham (A)	Bolton (A) 3-1 Everton (H) 3-4 Chelsea (A) Middlesbro (H) So'ton (A) Newcastle (H) Liverpool (A) Leeds (H) Sunderland (A)