Everton boss David Moyes wants even bigger things from his players as they prepare for a thrilling finale to the season.

The Toffees eased their way into fifth place in the Barclays Premier League with a comfortable win at Sunderland, and have already qualified for the Europa League by virtue of their presence in the FA Cup final.

However, Moyes insists they need to raise their game even further if they are to fulfil their dreams over the remaining weeks of the campaign.

He said: "We have got to go up again. We have got to be slicker, we need to be crisper than we were, and we need to be sharper.

"But it's a time of the season when there is a lot of tiredness. We have all been at it probably since the start of July now, and we are into May and we are all flagging.

"It's tough for the players at this time, but the good teams - that's why I admire all the managers and the teams who keep doing it because they have got to be fresh and good for this time of the year.

"I am going to try to get out boys into tip-top condition for the weeks to come."

Despite having to do without Phil Jagielka, Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman on Wearside, Everton were simply too good for the Black Cats, who passed up an opportunity to ease their relegation fears with another insipid display.

The visitors enjoyed much the better of the first half, but had to wait until the 48th-minute to get their noses in front.

They did so when Jo turned Anton Ferdinand to feed Steven Pienaar, who stabbed the ball past Marton Fulop from close range.

Sunderland, for whom strikers Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse made little impression, never really looked like forcing their way back into the game, although Danny Collins forced a 50th-minute save from Tim Howard with a firm header.

However, their hopes were dashed 19 minutes from time when Pienaar took full advantage of some woeful marking to square for Marouane Fellaini, who calmly slipped the ball past the stranded Fulop.

Ricky Sbragia's men now travel to Bolton and then Portsmouth knowing they will need to achieve positive results if they are not to go into the final game of the season, a home clash with Chelsea, with their situation unresolved.

However, the Scot is confident they will add to their current tally of 35, which leaves them four points better off than derby rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough inside the drop zone.

He said: "I think we will get points, I do think we will get points.

"It's easy for people to turn around and say, 'We will get three points here and a point there' or whatever.

"But it is very difficult winning games and we have found that difficult.

"I thought today, we could have been a little bit more motivated regarding the results which went for us.

"But I don't have a fear of not getting any more points."