HAPLESS BLUES HIT NEW LOW

EvErton suffered further humiliation last night as they were thrashed at home by Italian side Atalanta in the Europa League.

It means they have now lost four out of five group games and have only one point.

Caretaker manager David Unsworth has been unable to arrest the team’s decline and even though the game was a dead rubber for his side, they were expected to show some fight. Unsworth said: ‘I asked the players to make it difficult for me to leave them out at the weekend. they have actually made it easy.

‘ I know there wasn’ t anything riding on the game but we had paying Evertonians here and I stressed we had to compete.’

A paltry crowd of only 17,431 at Goodison saw Atalanta score three late goals — two by former Cardiff City reserve Andreas Cornelius, who didn’t score a single goal during his spell there in 2013-14.

Everton have been managerless since october following ronald Koeman’s sacking and Unsworth endured another horrow show as Everton fell to their heaviest defeat in Europe. Unsworth added: ‘ the

manner in which we capitulated just isn’t acceptable and the players know that. ‘This is a bit of a shock, the manner of defeat in the last 10 minutes was totally unacceptable but I stand firm and repeat I give my all for this club. ‘Other people will make decisions about who is the manager but I take that responsibility. But at the same time, when the players cross the white line they have to take responsibility. ‘I’ve learned a lot about numerous players here and that’s good, but it doesn’t feel good.’ Wayne Rooney said: ‘There was nothing riding on the game but it’s our pride. We wanted to win. That was a hurtful defeat.’ Everton have now won only one of their last 11 games and face Southampton away in the Premier League on Sunday. They are three points outside the relegation zone.