Moyes sympathy for Dowie

Everton boss David Moyes has voiced his sympathy for sacked Charlton coach Iain Dowie.

Dowie was axed just three months into his first season at The Valley following some poor early results, and Moyes feels it was a harsh move on Charlton's part.

"I have some sympathy for Iain, getting sacked so soon into the season. He is an up-and-coming young manager who has worked his way through the ranks, and I am disappointed for him," said Moyes, whose Everton side travel to Charlton on Saturday.

"I was in a similar situation last season here at Everton when my side was down at the bottom. But I have a very strong and supportive board of directors who stuck by me.

"Times were tough but they realised where we were going. I do not know really what has happened at Charlton, I'm only concerned with my own club, but I do feel what happened was harsh on Iain and I feel for him.

"He will come back as a good manager again somewhere, I am sure of that."

Moyes is determined for Everton to pile more pressure on Charlton and new boss Les Reed, but knows it will be a tricky test.

"This is the sort of game we have to win if we want to maintain our position in the table or move up. Charlton are down at the bottom and we know we must take the points," he urged.

"But they are dangerous in their position, with good players, and they have a new manager who will be in charge for his first home game.

"That means there is added pressure. Charlton's players will want to do well for the new man in front of their own supporters."

James Beattie will get his chance up front in the absence of Tim Cahill, and Moyes has challenged him to make the most of the opportunity.

"We are looking for Beattie to come through now. It has been a little stop-start for him, but that is mainly because the team has been doing so well," Moyes remarked.

"Cahill and Johnson have scored a dozen goals between them, they had a good partnership, but we have to win in different styles, different fashions and use different systems.

"Hopefully James will get his goals. He had a really hot period last season and almost got back into the England squad.

"That is what we know he is capable of, everybody must get behind him and we are all giving him our full support and backing and we hope he gets amongst the goals again."

Beattie accepts that Cahill's injury has created an opening for him, and he is looking to take advantage.

"Obviously we would like Tim to be fit and scoring goals like he has been doing, but when one door closes another one opens, and it is my chance to get a run in the side," said Beattie.

"It is difficult to come on and play 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there and perform at the level you can if you were playing every week and with games under your belt.

"Hopefully I will get that run of games now and start notching a few goals."