Roberto Martinez wants Everton to find increased consistency



Nine points from six matches represents a reasonable return and leaves the club just one win off the top four but they have managed just two victories so far.

Martinez knows they have deserved more than that but has called on the players to prove they can keep on challenging their Champions League-chasing rivals by stringing together a decent set of results.

"The best way to measure the quality of the squad is consistency in performances; Southampton away and Chelsea at home (their two wins to date) has given a reflection of what we can achieve," he said.

"Now it's about continuity and consistency

Our levels of performance have been better than our points return.

"You need to play well in order to get points over the course of the season so at this stage I'd rather have the performances than the points.

"In the last game against Swansea I thought we created enough chances to win and even against Manchester City (Everton's only defeat) I think our performance deserved a lot more than what we got."

The all-round ability of the side has already come to the fore with six different goalscorers and Martinez welcomes the additional contribution from the rest of the side which takes some of the responsibility off record signing Romelu Lukaku.

"When you are a manager of a group of players like we have you get excited about the competition for places and the levels of responsibility we have shown," he added.

"Internally we are getting quite strong in terms of the way we play and the understanding we have of each other.

"One of the biggest things in football is to score goals

It requires talent and organisation as a team.

"To have different goalscorers gives you more of a threat as it harder for the opposition to stop.

"More than anything it has been very satisfying with the balance we have had."

After West Brom Everton host neighbours Liverpool in the Merseyside derby before taking on Manchester United and Arsenal after the international break.

Martinez knows October will be a testing month but insists they have to focus on what immediately lies ahead.

"We're aware of the level of competition we face and the games we have ahead are strong, exciting challenges," he said.

"The next two fixtures are important and then it is keeping fingers crossed the players come back ready and refreshed from the international break for the coming fixtures.

"There are no easy games but there are exciting times ahead.

"They are difficult fixtures and we want to be as good as we can."

Source : PA

Source: PA