Martinez: Some of our play was outstanding and we worked hard for each other
Everton manager Roberto Martinez was full of praise for his team and said that they had no fear of losing at home and this helped take the shackles off and produce an outstanding performance against a poor Newcastle United team.
The Spaniard was also impressed with the way that his team managed the game after scoring the first goal and says that they worked hard for each other and worked hard for the win, something he said that they haven’t done much this season.
“It was a big game for us and sometimes that can bring extra pressure in that you play the occasion rather than the game,” he said.
“The perfect preparation was Thursday. Probably Thursday was a real turning point in that moment when we managed to take control of the situation.
“The mindset today wasn’t of a team who had fear of losing at home, some of the play was outstanding but when we had to defend and work hard for each other we did that with total composure.
“From scoring the first goal we managed the game really well and I thought we defended really composed. Tim Howard had a big save in the second half but apart from that I thought we protected him very well.
Speaking of the Newcastle United sending off.
“I haven’t seen the replay but I thought it was reckless and high,” he added.
“If you look at the reaction of the Newcastle players I don’t think anyone was surprised when they saw the red card.
“I don’t think it was a turning point or the reason why we won because we were very much in control but it always helps.”
Martinez added: “We started with a lot of tempo and a very positive intensity. From that point on and after we scored the first goal, I thought we managed the game really well. That is something that we haven’t done in the past when we have got ourselves into winning positions.
“I thought today we defended in a composed manner and Tim Howard only had one big save to make in the second half.
“It was a well-deserved clean sheet, we scored three goals which could have been more and, overall, it was an incredible display to carry on where we left off on Thursday.”
Martinez was also high in praise of returning midfielder Leon Osman who put in an excellent performance against Newcastle United.
“I think you have certain players in a squad who can fulfil a similar role, but unfortunately Leon is irreplaceable.
“He is very much a one-off in our squad because he is someone who can bring possession into threatening positions in the final third, he has incredible spatial awareness and his technical ability is as good as I have seen in an English player.
“We’ve missed him a lot and today you saw what a big impact he can have on our way of playing. We’re delighted to have him fully fit again and available for us between now and the end of the season.”
How good was the Everton performance against Newcastle United? Comment below or have your say on our dedicated Everton Forum at www.theevertonforum.co.uk/forum