David PRENTICE: Blues must capitalise to show who's boss.

Byline: David PRENTICE

EVERTON put on their best cardies, sipped the best bubbly and pulled on their battered flip flops as soon as Champions League qualification was assured. And no-one could possibly have begrudged them otherwise.

But, and when Everton are concerned there is usually a but, the really hard work starts now.

The Highbury horrow show and subsequent defeat by 10man Bolton simply proved how much Everton have relied on endeavour and intensity to overcome their lack of quality this season. That attitude was truly outstanding. But when that workrate dipped just a notch, the Blues didn't have much else to offer.

And David Moyes (pictured) will have to work hard to change that this summer.

In finishing above their bigger spending, bigger thinking rivals Liverpool, they overturned 18 years of domestic subservience.

But if the Blues really want to make this a pivotal moment in the club's fortunes, they must do it again. And again. And again.

It is a stunning statistic that Everton haven't finished above their nearest rivals in successive seasons since Cilla was a Cavern coatroom attendant - and Liverpool were back in the Second Division then.

Such was the Reds' dominance of domestic football in the three decades that followed, Everton had to win the title to finish above their neighbours in 1970, 1985 and 1987.

But, with Liverpool currently in transition - and Goodison awash with unexpected transfer funds - the Blues will never have a better time to strike a blow for domestic supremacy.

Another top six finish next season would show that last season was the blip, not this. And finishing above Liverpool usually means a place in Europe at the very least.

Everton will celebrate for a little longer yet. But then the hard work will really begin in earnest