Tim Cahill's goal in the 80th minute lifted Everton to a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth, keeping the Toffies firmly in third place in England and only three points behind league-leading Arsenal. Cahill scored his second goal of the season yesterday, this one coming on a header from eight metres as he charged into the area unmarked. Everton is the surprise team in the Premier League. Despite losing 18-year-old England star Wayne Rooney to Manchester United on a 30-million pound ($54.2 million) transfer last month, the Toffies have jumped above better known teams in England like Man United, Liverpool and Newcastle. "We were down all summer, we didn't play well last season," Everton manager David Moyes said. "We ended up adly. We had a rocky summertime. I can't say we enjoyed the summer so we're going to try and enjoy it just now." "We've won five games already this season. We only won nine all of last season. I didn't enjoy many Saturday nights or Sunday nights. I'm beginning to enjoy them a bit better now." Goalkeeper Nigel Martyn said the team believes it can beat any side in England. "It's just results, and as soon as you pick up a couple of results in a row, it breeds confidence. And there's plenty of that in the changing room right now." On Saturday, Arsenal ran its record unbeaten string in league play to 47 games, taking advantage of Ashley Cole's goal in a 1-0 victory at Manchester City. It was Arsenal 11th straight win over Man City in league play.The victory gave the Gunners 19 points in seven games. But they can't shake Chelsea, which defeated Middlesbrough 1-0 on Didier Drogba's goal. The Blues have 17 points followed by Everton (16), Bolton (12), Manchester United (12) and Newcastle (11). Other matchesOn a day of few goals, Manchester United moved into fifth place with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on a goal by Ruud Van Nistelrooy. In other scores Saturday: Aston Villa 1, Crystal Palace 1; Bolton 1, Birmingham City 1; Fulham 1, Southampton 0; Liverpool 3, Norwich City 0; Newcastle 3, West Bromwich Albion 1. Yesterday's most emotional match was in the League Championship - the old first division - where Nottingham Forest rallied with two goals in the final minutes to beat Derby 2-1. Marlon King scored the winner in injury time after Paul Evans scored in the 84th to equalize. Forest held a pre-game ceremony to honour former coach Brain Clough, who died last week at 69. Clough managed Forest to back-to-back European Cup titles in 1979 and 1980. In addition, he won the league title with Derby before being fired and moving to Forest. "I think the man himself would have been happy with that," Forest manager Joe Kinnear said. "I could not fault the players for their effort, and we scored two fantastic goals to send the fans home happy," Kinnear added. "I did not need to motivate the players - the occasion did that. The last thing we wanted today was to get beat." (AP)
Everton beats Portsmouth
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