Interview James BeattieDominic Fifield gets the thoughts of Everton's new striker ahead of today's clash with Chelsea at Goodison Park. (12.45)

The manager remains publicly coy, with most of the club's supporters too traumatised by recent years of failure to contemplate where the fun might all end, but Everton players are daring to dream out loud. "The lads can smell the Champions League now," James Beattie said. "No one will shout about it, but there's a resolve and willingness to work hard and do all we can to sustain our fourth position."

At a club that has learnt to treat every win with a dose of caution, that was about as cavalier as it comes. A season spent defying logic - if not gravity - among those at the top of the Premiership reaches its pivotal period this afternoon as Chelsea, the runaway leaders, visit Goodison Park.

Everton still have to play the other two clubs above them, Arsenal and Manchester United, with a trip across the way to fifth-placed Liverpool in a month's time already playing on the locals' minds. By then it will be clearer whether David Moyes's threadbare squad has the puff to sustain its challenge.

The outlay on Beattie, a club-record £6 million, was a lavish fee to cap the addition of three reinforcements during the January window, though the departures of Thomas Gravesen, Kevin Campbell and Nick Chadwick leave Moyes with the same number of players for the final push. Theirs remains the smallest squad in the top flight with the two new loanees, Mikel Arteta and Guillaume Plessis, still adapting to new surroundings.

In the circumstances, it is understandable that Everton are enduring their first prolonged blip of the season - they have won twice in seven games. It is remarkable that they remain five points clear of fifth.

A further 19 points from their final 12 league games should realistically secure Champions League football, though the nation's focus remains on the tussle at the pinnacle.

"It suits us down to the ground that everyone has spent the build-up to this game talking about Chelsea," said Beattie. "We can just get on with everything quietly. That they are the league leaders has taken the emphasis nicely away from us and we can just concentrate on staying up there as close as we can to the top three. The big games against the top three do add something a bit special. All the lads will be right up for this one."

Back at the tail end of August, when Moyes initially contacted Southampton to offer a significant chunk of the first tranche of Wayne Rooney's transfer fee for Beattie, the move to Merseyside looked far less attractive a proposition. Everton had endured an embarrassing run-in last season, winning only one of their final 10 games to finish in a precarious 17th position. A summer of turmoil, with Rooney sold on deadline day and boardroom ructions, had them mentioned in the same breath as the trio of promoted clubs, apparently peering over their shoulder at the Championship rather than at Liverpool. Realistic aspirations were no higher than survival. How ridiculous that rings these days.

The narrow defeat at Chelsea in November was one of only six sustained all season, a squad of feverish workers and no little ability muscling clear of Liverpool. Moyes's achievement in maintaining that progress is every bit as staggering as Jose Mourinho's pursuit of four trophies.

Marcus Bent's blistering stoppage-time equaliser at Southampton last Sunday was a timely reminder of this team's stubborn refusal to conform to expectations.

"For Mourinho - who's quietly confident, shall we say - to say that his side might drop points at Everton is a great compliment to us," said Beattie, who inevitably scored on his first return to St Mary's last week. "After last season, the fans' expectations would probably have been really simple: just to have a better year than last. But with what has happened and the things that have gone on so far, those expectations have shifted.

"Everyone's perception of playing Everton has, too. I've experienced life at both ends of the table this season. At Southampton, where we were really struggling, confidence had gone a bit and little breaks in the game tended to go against us. Up here when you are in fourth, everything seems to go for you. There are no real worries.

"Sure, the Champions League is the best competition you can play in at club level and we're all desperate to be a part of it, but it's a different kind of pressure to qualify. It's a lot easier at the top. Scrapping against relegation can bring out the best in some people, and the worst in others."

Everton must hope life at the other end brings out the best in Beattie. The former England striker arrived from the south coast only recently recovered from a broken toe and severely lacking in match fitness. Now, after two goals in his last three appearances, there are signs that the 26-year-old is reviving a stalled campaign. He scored one of his five league goals this season after 12 seconds at Stamford Bridge in a 2-1 defeat back in August. He also scored the equaliser, an own goal.

"My goal proves it can be done, he can be beaten," added Beattie. "They're a great side, but there is definitely enough in there for us to get a result. Personally I feel a lot better now. I'm feeling fitter, stronger and more familiar with my team-mates and the club, though there is still plenty more to come."

Locals will hope the same applies to Everton's season.

Guardian Service