THE last time Everton enjoyed a start to a Premiership campaign anywhere near as good as this season's it took a final-day victory over Wimbledon to avoid relegation.
Andy Hinchcliffe (left) was part of the side which survived with a nerve-jangling 3-2 win at Goodison in 1994 despite gathering nine points from the opening five games.
But he believes David Moyes' men have much more in common with Joe Royle's FA Cup-winning outfit from 1995.
Now a radio summariser, the former England international points to last weekend's battling 1-0 victory over Manchester City as evidence.
"It was like watching the team we had under Royle and Willie Donachie," said Hinchcliffe, who spent eight seasons at Goodison in the 1990s.
"We picked up the name 'the Dogs of War' because of the way we approached the games and the effort we put in.
"It is good to see that spirit in the team again. You can see the players are responding to the manager.
"A side can weather virtually anything if there is a unity within the squad and a faith in the manager.
"They didn't stop running for him last weekend. And the fans have picked up on the change of mood. Supporters aren't daft.
"They spot very quickly when players are running further and putting in a little extra effort."
Which is why the fans quickly got behind Royle's 'Dogs of War' 10 years ago, delighted to see such a blood-and-thunder approach from a squad which had floundered so badly the previous season.
The 1993- 4 campaign had started so brightly, winning the opening three games with Howard Kendall at the helm. But he left midway through the season after his bid to sign Dion Dublin from Manchester United was blocked by the board and with the club's form dipping.
Mike Walker was drafted in from Norwich but failed to impress the players or halt the slide.
It took Royle's arrival the following season to galvanise the squad, winning the FA Cup just 12 months after the Wimbledon game saved the club from relegation.
