Unsworth: We are in a relegation battle

DAVID UNSWORTH admitted Everton are facing a relegation battle as they crashed to another comprehensive defeat at Leicester.

Everton have only won two of their 10 Premier League games and their chronic lack of goals was again evident at the King Power Stadium. Unsworth, who is hoping to convince the club’s owners he can be the next full-time manager, was furious with the first-half performance.

He said: ‘We have to be honest — we are where we are and if we continue like that, the answer (Are we in a relegation battle?) is “yes”. But it is nothing that a couple of back-to-back wins could not put right. That’s my job. I have to try and get confidence back. Next week against Watford is massive. We need three points.

‘We were fearful in the first half and sat back having spoken about playing on the front foot. I wasn’t happy and that’s why I changed it and played a midfield diamond.’

Unsworth was subjected to some crude criticism from Joey Barton, who was summarising on talkSPORT, but Everton’s caretaker manager replied: ‘I don’t care what he says. It’s not a problem.’