Caretaker manager David Unsworth said he was "proud" of Everton after watching them come from two goals down to beat Watford 3-2 at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Everton, beaten in all three of Unsworth's previous matches, looked in deep trouble when Richarlison and Christian Kabasele put the Hornets two up.
But Oumar Niasse and Dominic Calvert-Lewin dragged them level and Leighton Baines converted an injury-time penalty to make it 3-2.
Watford's former Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley then missed the chance to level from the spot with seconds remaining.
The win lifted Everton out of the bottom three, and Unsworth told the BBC: "The game had everything, didn't it?
"It was an Everton performance in the second half and the crowd were amazing. They got us back into the game without a doubt. I am so proud of our club tonight.
"I might need to lie down in a dark room for half an hour! We showed great fight and spirit, and that's what you need at the bottom of the table. The table looks better than it did before the game.
"The win will give us some confidence -- it lifts the club and the training ground.
"I'm very confident with Leighton -- he's taken a lot of penalties. If anyone was going to stick in the back of the net, it was him."
Baines' penalty success took his tally of goals from the spot for the club to 24, one ahead of former defender Unsworth, who said he would wait to see whether he was in contention for the permanent job.
"Whatever will be will be," he added. "I have been the proudest man in the world to take charge for the last two weeks.
"I'm sure I'll speak to the chairman and owner, and I'll keep giving my best for this wonderful club."