PLAYERS NEED TO MAKE IT UP TO FRUSTRATED FANS SAYS STRIKER

DOMINIC Calvert-Lewin says Everton’s under-fire players have bridges to build with their frustrated supporters.

But the striker, who has won the vocal confidence of Carlo Ancelotti with three goals for the new boss, does not believe he nor his team-mates need telling they have to honour the shirt.

There was fury among the Everton support after a crushing derby defeat in the FA Cup by a young Liverpool side. That prompted some fans to storm into the club’s training ground to protest.

Midfielder Fabian Delph was involved in a Twitter spat with a disgusted fan and, when asked if the players need to now build bridges, CalvertLewin said: “Yes, I think so.

“People can only form their opinion on what they see and if it looks like we’re not giving our all, people are entitled to say that. I know the feeling and how much the derby means to them and the club. It is the biggest game of the season and to have had the opportunity to win and not perform how we wanted, it was a tough one to take and a tough pill to swallow.

“I can only say I would never shirk responsibility and take full responsibility for that performance. I can only apologise for the rest and try to do our best to put it right.” Calvert-Lewin feels Everton gained some small measure of redemption with a hardfought win over Brighton on Saturday, where they at least showed the fight the fans called for during a heated meeting with director of football Marcel Brands. And he told the fans there is no lack of desire among the players, who had a meeting after the derby loss.

“We have personal conversations in the dressing room,” he said. “It’s important we get our heads together ourselves.We speak about where we can do better and what we did wrong and that is all part and parcel of growing as a team.

“We couldn’t dwell on it too much but we had to harness that feeling and put it into today’s performance. It was vitally important we not only showed a fighting spirit and an ability to bounce back.

“It has been a tough week for us, so I can only imagine how the fans must feel. They showed that by coming to the training ground but they don’t have to do that for me to know how much it means to them.”

Calvert-Lewin has put himself in the England frame with a series of impressive performances leading the line for Everton this season, though he freely admits he must improve his finishing.

And the striker has vowed to give everything to the cause, which is close to his heart. “The frustration comes through very quickly and as players we have to deal with that and turn it around,” he said. “We know as players what we need to do.

“I already know how much it means to play for Everton. I can only let the fans know from myself how much it means to play for Everton and I will always give my best and give 100 per cent.”