As has been the mantra from the start with David Moyes’ second coming at Everton, the mood from the Blues boss in his pre-match press conference to preview the trip to Brentford was all about raising the bar. The open section was coming to a close and the Scot had already been asked the predictable posers about the aftermath of Everton’s response to how VAR somehow managed to tie itself in knots and reverse an on-field decision to award his side a stoppage time penalty against Manchester United when he was asked what seemed – on the surface at least – like a tap-in to trot out a platitude, stock response.

Always respectful, Moyes had spoken about what an “unbelievable job” Thomas Frank is doing at Brentford and how he’d got to know him a bit better last summer when attending the European Championship.

But when BBC football news reporter Shamoon Hafez asked whether Brentford were the type of club Everton should aspire to be, he chose not to take the safe, cosy option and his final reply of the session will have been music to beleaguered Blues’ ears.

READ MORE: David Moyes confirms Everton PGMOL talks as defender returns to trainingREAD MORE: ‘A great honour’ – New Everton Stadium put on the map after historic first gameMoyes said: “I’m going to say no to that. I think they’re a great run club, Brentford Football Club and what they’ve done over the years is remarkable but I think Everton have got bigger aspirations than Brentford, I really do.

“Me, personally, I’d like us to be challenging up near the top end of the league, rather than the bottom and that’s nothing to do with Brentford, that’s to do with my thoughts. But obviously step by step.

“Brentford have had to go step by step to get the recognition they deserve and what they’ve done since they were promoted. Here at Everton, we need to find a way to try and get back into the big time really.

“We have to find a way of doing that and I don’t think it will be in one fell swoop. I think it’s more likely to be done gradually also.”

Sensible, measured but ambitious and upwardly mobile. Moyes knows that he has returned to the Blues after what has arguably been the most-traumatic period in their history but they’re now coming out of the other side and he’s determined to take this golden opportunity to restore the club to the upper echelons of the English game.

While he is realistic about the position he came into, there were no complaints about the hand he had been dealt or problems he had inherited. That positivity permeated throughout Moyes’ appearance at Finch Farm.

He was keen to move on from the VAR row, realising that as maddening as the decision was, there is no benefit to be gained at this point from crying over spilt milk.

Alluding to his age again, the Premier League’s elder statesman, 61, spoke about reaching a 40-point target but also a desire to push towards the middle of the table, attempting to chase down the sides above them rather than looking over their shoulder.

That quest continues at the Gtech Community Stadium. Having triumphed 4-0 at Leicester City last time out, the Bees are just three points shy of the 40-point figure with a dozen fixtures still to play but should Everton record back-to-back wins in London by beating Brentford then they would cut the gap between the clubs to just three points.