Touch of arrogance from Rooney

After securing a fifth successive 1-0 League win with a flashing drive, the livewire frontrunner said: 'We don't need telling that the difficult bit is still to come.

'It is a magnificent achievement to have reached third place, but the hardest part is always trying to improve on something. We have got Newcastle next, followed by Chelsea, so we know it is going to take more of the same if we want to stay where we are or go even higher.

'People will be looking at us now. No- one is used to Everton being in the top three, and they will be asking if we can maintain it.

'We should be able to live with that pressure, though, because there is a positive atmosphere among the lads. It is just something that has built up in training and been taken into matches. There is a great belief among us and conviction about our play. Never mind about all the one-nils. They have not been scrappy affairs where we have been hanging on to an undeserved lead. We have carved out chances galore and played some great stuff. No mistake, we are good value for where we are.

'It is a bit early for saying we belong at the top. This is our first season up there. If we maintain it and repeat it, we can start saying we deserve to be rubbing shoulders with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United.

'We are trying to make it look like we fit in with the big boys and there is no fear or apprehension. The manager stresses the need for continual improvement, and that is all we think about.'

After his debut season was sabotaged by injury, the £ 4.5million signing from Anderlecht has been a revelation alongside Kevin Campbell and received a standing ovation when he made way for Rooney.

' Having Wayne on the bench, pushing for a place, keeps me on my toes,' said Radzinski.

'But I must admit I have found it hard to cope with being the one to give way every week. I understand the manager's position. He has to give Wayne time, and the simplest way is a straight swap.

'The main thing is I am in the starting line-up and playing well, so I won't make a fuss. But no one likes being substituted, and it does irritate me that I am always the one to be taken off.

'It is nice to play the full 90 minutes, especially as the last five or 10 minutes is when defenders get tired and strikers with pace get the chance to cash in.'

West Brom manager Gary Megson might well reflect on how close he came to pipping Moyes as successor to Walter Smith at Everton. Megson had most of the Everton board behind him, only to be foiled by a late surge of support for Moyes.

He succeeded in taking Albion up, but keeping them there could prove more arduous.

'We were organised and hungry and gave it a right good go, but we lacked quality,' said Megson.

'Passing is the big problem. Simple bread and butter passing. When we had possession, it all went astray.'