Everton defender Leighton Baines has delivered an honest assessment of the club’s start to the season and claimed that the team are “determined to put things right.”
The 32-year-old scored the winning goal as the Toffees climbed out of the relegation zone with a 3-2 win against Watford before the international break.
Last weekend’s victory was their first in the Premier League since September and also the first in all competitions since sacking Ronald Koeman last month.
The Toffees will look to build on that important win when they travel to Selhurst Park to face fellow strugglers Crystal Palace next weekend.
Although he was the hero against the Hornets, Baines, along with the majority of his teammates, has struggled for consistency this season.
The veteran defender has featured in every single Premier League match but he has only helped the team to achieve one clean sheet in the process.
Writing in his column for ESPN, the Englishman revealed that Everton are still in a precarious situation despite their recent win.
“It was a long time coming and it has been nice to be able to enjoy a winning feeling again over the last few days,” he wrote.
“However, we are under no illusions about what has gone before, and the situation we still find ourselves in.
“We know it’s not good enough for a club of Everton’s stature and, as a squad of players, we are determined to put things right.
“We have good players here, players who are much better than the league table and our performances suggest.
“It’s important we use the Watford result as a momentum builder; the character, fight and passion we showed to come back gives us something to build on and we are using this international break as an opportunity to regroup.”
OPINION
It is wise of Baines to try and cool excitement around Goodison Park despite the crucial victory over Watford last weekend. If former Toffees man Tom Cleverley managed to put away his penalty in the last minute, Everton would’ve endured a long wait before Premier League football returned. The Toffees only find themselves two points off the bottom three and they must keep their feet on the ground and continue to fight as they are certainly not immune to enter a relegation battle this season. A victory over Palace next weekend will ease the tension around Merseyside but players such as Baines need to step up and lead by example with the festive period coming up.