Everton - 3 Bolton Wanderers - 2: Everton will go into the 200th Merseyside derby next Saturday fortified - dare one say it - by the indomitable spirit and self-belief that ran through Liverpool's veins in their days of domination. But the story of Everton's season should not be seen through a red prism. David Moyes rightly offered the purely blue view.
"It's difficult to explain how good we feel," said Moyes in the afterglow of what he called "our best win of the season". The formula is simple: "Winning guarantees spirit and we've got that in abundance."
Sheer determination, laced with a measure of luck - notably the late own-goal winner - broke Bolton's strong back. Everton fans would welcome more of the same at Goodison next weekend. If they need any further encouragement, their team's nine-point lead over their city rivals is the biggest since 1987 - when Everton last won the title.
Moyes is making a little go a long way. Their disjointedness in a first half controlled by Bolton mocked pretensions to a Champions League berth, let alone the English title. Yet they won, coming from behind twice, against distinctly awkward opponents. Sam Allardyce's rant at the referee Howard Webb - "a major influence on us losing this game" - by no means tells the full story.
Everton's manager seems to be thriving on an attitude of treating them mean to keep them keen. No fewer than eight players on view here have uncertain futures, with contracts expiring next summer. And, from a squad of 19, Moyes is drawing consistently good performances from a nucleus of players who seemed past their sell-by date last season.
Moyes must be thinking in terms of one more year for his centre-back pair, Alan Stubbs and David Weir - 33 and 34 respectively - and a new deal cannot be ruled out for Duncan Ferguson. Even if this was the striker's first Premiership start this season, despite what Moyes called "a bad neck injury", this elusive Evertonian has appeared in all but one league game.
The manager will still not be drawn on the future of Ferguson, 33 this month, but the striker's beautifully directed header and Moyes' praise hardly hindered his chances of a fresh contract. Moyes admitted: "We were thinking of taking him off at half-time but then he scored. He's been largely injury-free this season. People talk about his aerial power but he's got things others haven't got. He has terrific ability. He's got good feet."
Ferguson's goal, from Alessandro Pistone's cross, was one of many bones of contention for Allardyce, who noted Ivan Campo was fouled in the build-up. Less clear was his claim Bolton should have had a free-kick before Everton countered and won their own award outside the area as Ferguson was wrestled to the floor by Radhi Jaidi.
This, to Allardyce's anguish, brought Everton's second equaliser as Thomas Gravesen delivered at the second attempt after Jay-Jay Okocha darted out of the defensive wall. The powerful, low drive by Gravesen was fitting reward for his dynamic perseverance throughout, although Everton were lucky to get away with Stubbs's charge at the wall which gave the shot its clear path to goal. Moyes was full of praise for his big Dane.
"He is a player who helps us at difficult times," he said.
The force was now with Everton. It was too much for Allardyce, who then witnessed insult added to perceived injustice by the winner five minutes from time. Leon Osman's hopeful volley took a big deflection off the hapless Jaidi. "The own-goal summed up the match today," said Bolton's manager.
By this time two goals from the selfless Kevin Davies were a distant memory. The striker half-volleyed the first and delivered a superb looping header for the second shortly after nodding against the bar.
Webb is scarcely the first referee to upset Allardyce this season. "Keith Hackett (the referees' chief) knows we're not being treated well. He knows that because I've told him. I can pick up the Prozone and that tells me what the situation is. I might just have to make my findings public."
