The Toffeemen have failed to keep a clean sheet so far this season, conceding 11 goals in just five matches.

The club's defensive frailties were exposed during last night's disappointing 2-2 draw with Standard Liege in their first round UEFA Cup tie and Moyes has instructed his back four to stem the flow of goals at the KC Stadium.

He said: "We need to tighten up because you can't keep needing to score two and three from every game to get the points from the game.

"We will have to try to do better than that.

"We didn't want to concede [against Liege] but we did concede two which was disappointing and we have a lot to do in the second leg now.

"We have been conceding too many goals and it is something we have looked at and talked about, and hopefully it is something that will come to an end against Hull."

Since taking charge in March 2002, Moyes has made a miserly defence the bedrock of his side and he admits he is worried about Everton's current problems.

He added: "It is a concern because [clean sheets] are what you build and start from.

"We do a lot of work with the boys at the back but a lot of the goals have come down to individuals and during a game that is something you can't do a lot about."

Moyes has backed the likes of Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Phil Neville and Joseph Yobo to turn the situation around and the Scot praised the attitude of his whole squad during the current situation.

He added: "They are hurting because they want to do well.

"They are really good lads and honest in what they want to do. When you get a group like that you will get success and they will get success because they will work very hard to correct it.

"One thing we have in abundance here is that they don't give in."

Hull have taken seven points from their opening four Premier League matches and the Everton manager is wary of what Phil Brown's side are capable of producing during his first match as a boss at the KC Stadium.

By Sunday afternoon, Everton will have played all three promoted teams and following wins against West Brom and Stoke, Moyes is satisfied with how his squad has coped against the Premier League's newest competitors.

He said: "Hull have started the season well, they have had some really good results and are dangerous and I think Phil Brown has done a great job there in how he has got them going.

"I have been there to watch games but never taken a team so that's new - it will be good for Hull and we are looking forward to it.

"I have always thought the start of the season is not a great time to play the newly-promoted teams but we have done fine with the teams we have played so far."

Despite recent reports stating that Moyes' contract discussions have been satisfactorily concluded, he has still to sign a new deal and repeated his familiar line that Everton fans will hear "shortly" exactly what the situation is.

"It is the same as what I said for the past two or three days," he added.

"The contract is with the club at the present time and we might have some news shortly."