Season › 2014-15 › News
Boss takes great satisfaction from win at Palace
Roberto Martinez expressed his satisfaction with Everton's first win in seven Premier League games as they successfully defended an early lead delivered by Romelu Lukaku to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Roared on by another sold out away allocation, the Blues had to withstand a brief barrage in response from Palace who had come from behind in three of their four consecutive victories prior to today, but the back line held firm thanks to a committed defensive display.
Having seen his team win just once in 13 matches prior to today, the manager was lifted by both the result and the performance and he spoke in typically glowing terms of his players' performance after the game.
"It was more than relief, it was real satisfaction," Martinez said.
"Our last two performances in the League had been very good but we didn't get the three points. Today we felt that we had to be perfect to do that. We were against a team full of confidence who were scoring goals at ease.
"Our performance was very professional with a strong intent from the beginning to win the game. We scored the goal early and the hardest thing in football is to hold on to that lead for so long in a place like this.
"We were tested and had to defend our box well. We carried a good threat and maybe we should have scored a second goal, but overall we defended with a lot of concentration and that made for a very pleasing performance."
With more daylight between themselves and the bottom three, Everton can now start looking at closing the gap above them to the top half of the table, starting with the visit of Liverpool next weekend. The confidence gleaned from a hard-earned away win will stand the Blues in good stead for the clash against the local rivals and Martinez feels his team has rediscovered its mental toughness.
"We were the first ones to not be enjoying winning consistently," he continued. "We know what we can do and we know of the expectations that we have been able to raise. [Not winning] made it difficult to approach the next game, and we got punished at times.
"We now look refreshed and mentally strong. We've got incredible support. You could see today, when we most needed the fans, they are always behind us with a full away allocation. That's a sign for us to be proud."
Reader Comments (42)
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2 Posted 31/01/2015 at 20:20:12
What's happened to Pienaar?
4 Posted 31/01/2015 at 20:49:10
Is that not 5 unbeaten (in 90 mins)? Without playing anywhere near what we showed last year.
Loads still to do before we're safe – but maybe that corner we need to turn is in sight?
Glad there's some very poor sides below us like, but maybe the Qatar jolly was a good idea.
5 Posted 31/01/2015 at 21:17:08
I am still not convinced that RM is the right man for us being honest but let's be pleased that we got the 3 points today... god, we needed them!
I see Sturridge scored for the RS today, I feel sick at the thought of seeing him perform that pathetic goal celebration next week at Goodison Park. Please no! I would take a draw now, them bastards are playing well at the minute.
6 Posted 31/01/2015 at 21:39:46
Let's hope it give the team the boost in confidence they for next week.
7 Posted 31/01/2015 at 22:42:40
We need to win ugly more often, that way more people on here would be happy :-)
3pts from the next 3 games is the next target.
Coyb
8 Posted 31/01/2015 at 23:01:56
9 Posted 31/01/2015 at 23:05:40
They're not playing well, just grinding out results. They've played nothing apart from Chelsea... and couldn't beat them. The game next week is anyone's – ask the bookies. You wont get much change out of them...
10 Posted 31/01/2015 at 23:16:27
How Barry wasn't yellow carded is beyond me. Besic was the pick of the day for me and the back line was pretty steady.
Did anyone see Barkley even get a run along the touchline to warm up?
Finally a word of praise for Pete the Eagle (and Mrs Pete, I presume) for looking after the Everton mascot and giving him his moment in front of the Everton fans. Great touch.
11 Posted 31/01/2015 at 23:29:14
"We were tested and had to defend our box well. We carried a good threat and maybe we should have scored a second goal, but overall we defended with a lot of concentration and that made for a very pleasing performance."
Pleased by our defending, are you Roberto? Good sign. Just keep the lads grinding and let's see how good the RS is.
12 Posted 01/02/2015 at 00:02:57
Had we been playing pretty but unrewarding football then, frankly, our approach should have been no different today. Win pretty, win plainly, win pretty ugly, win ugly........but just fuckin WIN!
We have NOT been playing pretty but unrewarding football recently, so we didn't have to ditch beauty for the beast.....we smashed and grabbed 3 pts and were no uglier than we have been for weeks upon end, we were however far more gritty. No sacrifice, just gain.
Once again best player throughout, Mo Besic.
My most sincere piece of advice to RM regarding post-match comments or FF conferences is this.......... STFU!
13 Posted 01/02/2015 at 00:22:17
Palace could have battered us if it wasn't for the excellent Stones. Coleman and Besic grew into the game too but we seriously were fortunate to get all the points today.
Up front, and God knows I love them both, Lukaku and Naismith look shadows of their better selves. Naismith will still run around a bit but where is the player who terrorised Arsenal last season? Lukaku doesn't even look like a footballer, such is his ineptitude at all the basics, let alone the specifics of his role.
Put this into perspective before anyone accuses me of moaning for the sake of it: we were second best to a club that earns far less than us in revenue and a team that cost far less than ours to assemble. Good luck if you are satisfied with that. Can't wait for Roberto to be sacked.
14 Posted 01/02/2015 at 02:06:46
16 Posted 01/02/2015 at 07:34:26
17 Posted 01/02/2015 at 08:02:05
I am looking forward to 20% posession and a 3-0 win next week.
18 Posted 01/02/2015 at 08:10:39
First post made me laugh.
I think we are better equipped to deal with teams who press us, hence the lower possession. If teams approach us like West Brom did, we could play all week and not score.
I just hope I can still smile in 8 days.
19 Posted 01/02/2015 at 09:03:02
20 Posted 01/02/2015 at 09:15:15
Meant minimum of 3pts from the next 3 games which, considering who we are playing and how we are playing, is a realistic target me thinks.
21 Posted 01/02/2015 at 09:18:32
I suspect he's had a 'talking to' by Bill whose interest in avoiding relegation goes well beyond the indignity we as supporters would suffer over it.
38 points should do it this year, given the dogfight at the bottom, although mere survival may not be enough if it indicates huge sums have to be spent close season.
'Never bullshit a bullshitter' and the king of that genre can see one a mile off – just a pity that he lowered his scatological instincts when he appointed the Catalan.
22 Posted 01/02/2015 at 09:28:49
The good performances will come with confidence. Confidence will come as we continue to be difficult to play against and pick up points.
Crystal Palace have been on a very good run themselves of late and away games against any team in this league is not easy.
As for next week, form goes out the window and it will be largely determined by who wants it more... and whether the ref is a closet RS.
23 Posted 01/02/2015 at 09:52:27
What's that now? Five games unbeaten? Just win our home games, and a few on the road, and we will be fine.
24 Posted 01/02/2015 at 10:10:58
Individual bright spots were Robles, Besic and Stones. Hopefully confidence will begin to return. I thought Mirallas had a shocker, not sure who he thinks will employ him next season if he wants to move on. What is it with Belgians and their egos???
25 Posted 01/02/2015 at 11:30:19
Men of the Match? Stones and Jags. First corner? 86th minute. Sound to you like a team prep'd to play Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea? No, blatantly not.
Unfortunately, El BS Merchant wins a bit more time to spin his BS, time we cannot afford. Our average points-per-game indicates relegation in the last eight seasons. But hey, Positive Peter says we'll be okay, because we'll start 'winning our home games and win a few away'.
Well, NEWSFLASH – we haven't been doing that all season! What makes you think we will start doing so, given the inexorably increasing pressure as relegation threatens (and if you think we're not going to be under threat, try thinking about where we'll be in the table on game 28)?
Honestly. We win 1-0 at an under-strength Palace and some think we're Champions League contenders again. I could weep, I really could.
27 Posted 01/02/2015 at 13:35:01
28 Posted 01/02/2015 at 13:46:08
29 Posted 01/02/2015 at 14:22:06
I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach though. I feel it's almost as sure a thing as death and taxes that come the derby Besic will be sat down in favor of a Barry - McCarthy partnership. I just feel we are a better side with Mo on the pitch. I fear I will feel a lot of anger and frustration with Roberto's reverting to type and not having the gumption / intelligence to keep Besic on the pitch.
It's gonna happen and it's really gonna piss me off.
30 Posted 01/02/2015 at 14:40:32
31 Posted 01/02/2015 at 14:59:09
32 Posted 01/02/2015 at 14:57:37
A very solid performance and 3 points was what was needed and that's what we got so come on let's look forward to beating the Redshite next weekend.
33 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:04:14
34 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:08:50
35 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:13:08
36 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:21:04
37 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:26:47
38 Posted 01/02/2015 at 15:11:16
While I share in the euphoria of a rare win, I thought we were still a shadow of the team we can be.
Lukaku can't trap a ball, can't head a ball, and can't pass a ball. 㿈 million deary me. Naismith works his tripe off but is about as technically able as a Tranmere player. Mirallas doesn't look interested and McGeady... well, he is just McGeady.
Rant over.
I thought Jags and Stones were magnificent, Besic and Barry played really well and Robles after a shaky start did a lot better than Howard at catching corners and crosses.
There was nothing to convince me we have turned the corner but I am grateful for the 3 points to take the pressure off.
40 Posted 01/02/2015 at 16:12:35
41 Posted 01/02/2015 at 16:21:06
42 Posted 01/02/2015 at 16:16:19
I do get your point sir but they have been a lot more consistent than us of late in the league, I also take into account the dodgy decisions that usually go against us when playing them bastards.
I should have more faith I know!
43 Posted 01/02/2015 at 17:05:03
The reality of having a manager out of his depth hasn't changed, though; yesterday we played against a team which in years gone by we would have expected to out-play and win; how times have changed. Thanks Roberto...
KITAP1 should now be Relegation Roberto's 'philosophy' so he can keep us up and then bugger off. If he doesn't go, does anyone really think we will be top 6, let alone top 4, next season?
44 Posted 01/02/2015 at 20:24:04
We won't go down but by the skin of our teeth we, I'd say, will survive. Time now for the players to do what they are paid for and give some of us a bit of pleasure in watching them..
46 Posted 02/02/2015 at 08:39:05
Besic played a sound game again, which is good. Rom looks lost in spite of his goal. Kone seemed to achieve more in just a few minutes than Rom died but "hats off to the goal". I feel we need JM back.
I hope the RS don't have Sturridge back for next weekend! But perhaps we'll have a real go at them because, after all, it is "the Derby".
COYB
47 Posted 02/02/2015 at 19:16:36
Last season was an exceptional season but clearly not the norm, Roberto has had a few problems with injuries and suspensions, the squad albeit strong when all fit is still threadbare and weak when we have injuries and such like. I said at the start of the season we would finish mid table but we would win the Europa League. Now if this prediction comes true and the supporters had been offered this at the start of the season I thinks hands would have been snatched off, so letÂs give this man until we are out of the Europa then start slating him.
LetÂs not forget Moyes brought on a defender when we playing Spurs at home and drawing, at least Roberto will try to win every game because he thinks we can outscore the opposition. We won ugly this must continue until more players come back from injury. Blue until I die.
COYB
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1 Posted 31/01/2015 at 20:21:33