Coleman: Everton won’t compromise

Seamus Coleman insists Everton’s style will not be compromised by the pressure to get results at Goodison Park.

Coleman: Everton won’t compromise

Seamus Coleman insists Everton’s style will not be compromised by the pressure to get results at Goodison Park.

The Toffees’ 3-1 victory over QPR on Monday night was only their third of the season at home and ended a run of four matches without a win.

The frustration being felt by Everton’s fans was obvious as the team laboured during the first half an hour against a team that has not picked up a point away from home.

Passes went astray and they struggled to create anything of note until a moment of individual brilliance from Ross Barkley put them ahead. Kevin Mirallas grabbed a second before half-time with a deflected free-kick and Steven Naismith effectively killed off the game with a third in the 53rd minute.

But then Everton sat back and allowed QPR to come at them, with Bobby Zamora grabbing a consolation, and the atmosphere around the ground was hardly one of joy.

Coleman said: “When the results have been going the way they’ve been going it’s only natural to feel like that but we know what we’re capable of in that changing room and it’ll never change.

“We like to keep the ball and play as much football as we can. It’s been difficult because our home record last season was so impressive but it’s something we’ll be looking to put right.

“We go out trying to play the same way we do every week. Sometimes you get the result, sometimes you don’t, but hopefully that result can kick-start us.

“When results haven’t been going well you do feel the pressure that little bit more because you need the win but I thought we played freely and Ross was brilliant breaking from midfield.”

The absence of Gareth Barry through suspension and injured trio James McCarthy, Leon Osman and Darron Gibson forced boss Roberto Martinez into playing a young and untested midfield partnership of Barry and Muhamed Besic.

It paid off handsomely, with Barkley putting in a mature performance while showing off his huge talent and Besic catching the eye with a series of uncompromising but generally well-timed tackles.

The Bosnian was a summer signing from Ferencvaros and has been growing into life in the Premier League.

“I’m sure everyone saw him at the World Cup, he’s brilliant at that role,” said Coleman. “He’s a great lad and works very hard so we’re all very happy with how he played.”

The result lifted Everton above neighbours Liverpool and into the top 10 ahead of the busy festive period.

On Saturday they travel to Southampton before two games in three days against Stoke and Newcastle and then a New Year’s Day trip to Hull.

“I love the Christmas period,” said Coleman. “I love games every couple of days.

“As footballers, we’re paid to win football matches and hopefully we can do that as much over the Christmas period as possible because I think if you have a good Christmas period it sets you up very nicely.

“There’s not much points difference ahead of us so hopefully we can start clawing people back.”

QPR find themselves in the bottom three and boss Harry Redknapp is still searching for answers on how to break their away duck.

“It’s been difficult but they’re tough away games,” he said.

“We’ve come up from the Championship along with Burnley and Leicester and it’s difficult. It’s difficult for six or seven teams that are going to be down there.

“But our home form has been good. I wanted to make changes but I’ve got two strikers on my books, Bobby Zamora and (Eduardo) Vargas, who normally plays wide. We’re short in certain areas.”

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Republic of Ireland Training Session and Media Conference Ogbene ruled out for 'few weeks'
Chelsea v Leicester City - Barclays Women's Super League - Kingsmeadow Willie Kirk sacked as Leicester boss after position became ‘untenable’
St Patrick's Athletic v Shelbourne - SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Damien Duff: 'The leading light of Irish football is not the national team but the league itself'
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited