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Having been in the job for a week, Moyes made his first team selection and he was faithful to the line-up chosen by Andy Holden last week, the absence of Allessandro Pistone forcing David Unsworth into the back four and handing Jesper Blomqvist a return to the starting 11.  Thomas Gravesen was given his opportunity to atone for the sending off against Fulham and Tony Hibbert kept his place with Steve Watson still not ready to return to action.

The opening exchanges were, predictably for two sides struggling at the wrong end of the table, scrappy and clumsy with neither side able to create anything of note in attack.  Defensively, Derby relied heavily on the offside trap and restricted the visitors to two Gravesen volleys, while at the other end David Weir and Alan Stubbs were as dependable as ever.  Moyes was, however, forced into an early change when Lee Carsley limped off to be replaced by Niclas Alexandersson.

Despite the loss of Carsley, the Blues' rhythm continued according to what appeared to be specific instructions from the manager to contain and close Derby down at every opportunity.  Gravesen had the heart going with a couple of untidy tackles that referee Neale Barry sensibly overlooked and both Blomqvist and Gemmill were tenacious in their tracking back.  Although passion and commitment were abundant, offensively, Everton bore all the hallmarks of a team still battling to find their way.  Too many long balls found the heads of Derby defenders and possession was, as always, surrendered far too cheaply.

On 37 minutes, though, it all fell into place and it was that man David Unsworth again with the opening goal.  Thomas Gravesen moved to shoot from long range before laying the ball perfectly to his left for Unsworth to measure his shot and fire across the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 1-0.  Cue an ecstatic Rhino charge to the sideline to high-five the new boss; Moyes' magic was working again.

Although they were on the back foot almost immediately when Ravanelli was handed the Rams' first shot on goal with a free kick on the edge of the area, Everton held out comfortably until half time.

Within five minutes of the restart, it was 2-0 and Everton were flying.  A free kick on the edge of the Derby area looked to be prime territory for Unsworth to try for his second but instead Stubbs launched an Exocet that arrowed past the wall and into the net to send the huge — and hugely vocal — away fans into delirium.

The fun wasn't over, either.  After Georgie Kinkladze had blazed a shot inches over the bar at one end, Everton countered down the left where Tomasz Radzinski's low cross was just missed by Duncan Ferguson's outstretched boot but Alexandersson made no mistake from four yards out; although Foletti, the Derby 'keeper, did get a flailing hand to the ball he couldn't stop Everton taking a 3-0 lead.

Despite the glorious scoreline, you had to be ever mindful that Pride Park is no stranger to goals or high-aggregate encounters, particularly given the spirit with which John Gregory's team play.  So it was no surprise when Derby pulled a goal back just three minutes later.  Branko Strupar had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes before he sent an unstoppable volley past Simonsen to give County hope of a comeback.

David Moyes' response was not to add another defender as his predecessor would almost certainly have done; instead he withdrew Radzinski for Kevin Campbell and the Blues continued to play with increasing confidence.  Gemmill grew into a playmaker role and Ferguson looked quite at home holding the ball up and laying off passes to support the team's advances.  Alexandersson suddenly looked like the player we had been expecting when he signed from Sheffield Wednesday as he taunted and teased the home defence running down the flank as often as he cut inside.

And after Ravanelli had finished a dangerous Derby attack by heading over the angle, it was the Swede who created goal number four for Ferguson.  Alexandersson jinked his way into the area, faked to go one way but squared it instead and his Scottish captain was on hand to elegantly side-foot into the top left corner to make it an incredible 4-1.

Three goals up and coasting, however, is just not the Everton way, as we all know.  Four minutes after Everton had notched their fourth, Derby replied with a goal by tricky substitute Morris who capitalised on a flat-footed defence to belt the ball high into the net following a corner.  Four minutes after that it was 4-3 when an unmarked Strupar powered a header past the stranded Simonsen and Everton were suddenly transported back to a week ago when they found themselves desperately defending a one-goal lead.

Moyes' men held out relatively comfortably despite the loss of Alan Stubbs to injury with eight minutes to go and the addition of five minutes of added time that was soaked up largely by possession football by the Blues — something they have found very hard to master this season.

Although it represented a second successive win for Moyes in a crucial relegation six-pointer, the manager will probably be more angry at the way his team threw away such a massive advantage.  He can, however, take enormous satisfaction — as can we all — from the fact that Everton have rediscovered the art of attacking and the precious commodity that is goals, not to mention the fact that all four strikes were scored on the ground.  Entertainment is back on the menu at Everton!

Most importantly, though, survival — the preservation of our precious top-flight status, and the opportunity to start next season as the first club to play 100 seasons in the top division — were all enhanced by what was a very pleasing display, despite the nervy finale.  Vive la revolution!

Lyndon Lloyd