The 5-1 first leg UEFA Cup defeat to Dinamo almost certainly ensures they will tumble out of Europe’s secondary competition at the first hurdle, just as they did in the Champions League.

But rather than view the situation as a waste of last year’s monumental efforts, Moyes has called on his team to repeat the feat.

“We have created the expectation, that is why people are making so much of what happened on Thursday,” said Moyes.

“I am pleased with that. I would take the result we had the other night if it meant we finished fourth every year.

“What happened in Romania was disappointing, everyone is aware of that. But I won’t make something bigger than it already is.”

Amid the rancour of a season which has started with six defeats in seven games in all competitions, and sees the Toffeemen head to Highbury entrenched in the relegation zone, Moyes was gratified to receive the backing of chairman Bill Kenwright.

It was not the notorious ‘vote of confidence’ from an owner about to plunge a knife into his manager’s back, more an awareness of how far Everton have come since Moyes arrived at Goodison Park from Preston.

But the Scot is acutely aware he has to deliver results. And while his achievements so far have bought him a considerable degree of time – and a new three-year contract – Moyes knows Kenwright’s patience will only stretch so far.

“The chairman is supportive of me,” he admitted.

“But he is also as big a supporter of the club as anyone and hurts just as much when we don’t get the results.

“He is the chairman and he wants me to get results – that is my job. It doesn’t add to the pressure because it is not about David Moyes – it is about Everton; the team and the club.”

Moyes is pondering at least one change, with much-derided Nuno Valente set to be sacrificed, a move which would allow Phil Neville to slot in at left-back so the more creative talents of Mikel Arteta can be accommodated in midfield.

However, with James Beattie still absent, striking reinforcements are not available to the Toffees boss, whose side have scored just once in four Premiership outings this term.

“It is a worry that we have not created enough opportunities, or scored enough when we have done.

“We went down every avenue trying to bring in a new striker before the transfer deadline,” he said.

“We tried everything we could but in the end, the addition we needed wasn’t there.

“Because we are not scoring, it means we have to rely on everybody else to make sure we come away with a clean sheet.”

Moyes’ eagerness to cast the midweek debacle to one side is not helped by the knowledge his side lost 7-0 on their last visit to Highbury in May, the lowest point of his Everton reign prior to the Bucharest trip.

“We are still a bit raw inside at that result at Arsenal last time,” said Moyes.

“People here know there were one or two situations which led to that defeat but obviously it was very difficult to take.

“The scar is still visible and hopefully we can feed off it and get a positive result tomorrow.”