GRAHAM Taylor last night saluted his goal-crazy Aston Villa team after they thrashed title pretenders Everton 6-2 in a TV spectacular.

Said Taylor: "We were exceptional. This result should give the whole club confidence."

Everton boss Colin Harvey confessed: "This was my worst day as a manager - one of my worst-ever in football."

Two-goal attack partners David Platt and lan Olney led the Villa all-star parade. Gordon Cowans and Kent Nielsen completed the rout, Tony Cottee and Paul McGrath's own goal offering Everton small consolation.

Paul McGrath, Ireland's 'Black Pearl’, totally snuffed out the challenge of Everton's Norman Whiteside who was reduced to committing niggling fouls and getting booked. He was eventually substituted.

In the second half VIU manager Graham Taylor made some tactical switches and moved McGrath to left back. Again McGrath did everything that was asked of him with skill and absolute composure.

If beleaguered Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was watching this game be must surely have regretted letting McGrath leave for £130,000 last summer. It may well turn out to be the bargain buy of the season.

The only blemish on McGrath's brilliant comeback from injury was that he scored a goal . .. against his own team. McGrath displayed his class and, just as importantly. his versatility in what was unquestionably Villa's finest performance this season.

The home side opened the scoring in the sixth minute when midfielder Gordon Cowans ran on to a ball from Chris Price and beat Neville Southall from 10 yards.

Villa went two up in the 19th minute when an lan Ormondroyd cross was hooked on by David Platt and blocked by Southall before lan Olney prodded the ball into the net.

They went three up on the 25th minute when a Cowans free kick was superbly headed over Southall by Platt.

Villa continued their inspired form after the break.

Platt got his second in the 50th minute when he beat Southall after being put through by Kevin Gage, leaving former teammate Martin Known for dead to score Villa's fourth.

Two minutes later Olney got his second when he scored after Southall had parried a Platt header.

Villa got their sixth in the 67th minute when defender Kent Nielsen beat Southall at the far post to head home a Cowans free kick.

Everton, who last conceded six when they lost 6-2 to Manchester United in 1977, got some consolation with seven minutes left.

First Tony Cottee scored his second in two games when he beat Nigel Spink. Then McGrath prodded into his own goal after new signing Peter Beagrie, who had come on as a second half substitute to make his debut, shot from the left.

Villa's performance gave the TV audience spectacular viewing and lifted them to fourth place in the League. They are now unbeaten in eight games. It was Everton's first defeat in seven games.