Cahill: Moyes crucial to Everton

Moyes has had a difficult six months, with injuries to key personnel cutting deep into his squad. But with little in the way of finance to ease the burden in the January transfer window the Toffees boss has been steadfast in his belief the players he has available would haul them out of trouble. And they have repaid that faith with a seven-match unbeaten run, with the weekend victory over big-spending Manchester City lifting them up to 10th in the Premier League table. Cahill feels it is the manager's unstinting belief in them - and the players' desire to turn things around - which has made a difference. "The manager and players don't become bad overnight and it isn't a fluke what we have achieved in the past," said the Australia international. "The manager buys players he can trust. We would run through brick walls for him and the poor run hurt us as much as it hurt him. "We were letting him down. Even when you have got knocks, you play and that says something about the relationship here." Cahill also stressed that the club's consistent backing of Moyes helped with stability and allowed the manager to plan with confidence for the long-term. "The patience of the club is something. The relationship the chairman (Bill Kenwright) has with the manager is an honest one," he added. "The patience shown is a credit to the board and I think it is a good lesson to other clubs because in the modern era of football it is hard for managers. "They get the blame for everything, but it is the players who cross the line." Cahill said now the team had appeared to have turned the corner the important thing was to build on their momentum to see if they could challenge for a European place, which is what the side have done regularly over the last few seasons. "Sometimes everything just falls into place and now it is about kicking on, keeping momentum and the attitude and making sure we are always fitter than the other team," he told the Liverpool Echo. "If we make sure we are fitter, stronger and always up for it then we will do well. "We have got the grit back and playing here is an absolute delight. I think that for me is what got us to where we were in the past." Pivotal to Everton's recent upturn has been the form of club record signing Marouane Fellaini, who was man of the match against City. Having struggled for the first couple of months after being struck down with a virus in the summer the Belgian international is now showing the form which persuaded Moyes to splash out £15million. "The last few games he has played really well, but in the City game he was amazing," said defender Sylvain Distin. "I don't know how many times he took the ball off the opposition - he was just everywhere."