PICKING UP THE PIECES

Jordan urges Blues to keep calm and carry on after wretched run

JORDAN PICKFORD has called for calm as storm clouds gather over Goodison.

A 3-0 reverse at the Etihad Stadium last weekend (Raheem Sterling scoriong, below) saw Everton fall to a sixth defeat in their last nine matches with just one victory, at home to struggling Norwich, since early September.

They face a tough fixture list right up to Christmas, with daunting games against Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Leicester punctuated by tricky visits to Brentford and

Crystal Palace.

But Pickford pointed to the club’s lengthy injury list and insisted this is not the time to panic.

“We have to move forward, let the dust settle and work hard all week,” he said.

“We need to be calm and refresh for Brentford on

Sunday. Some games don’t go your way and you have to focus on the next one.”

New boss Rafa Benitez has come under pressure from some fans in recent weeks as results have turned sour after a spectacular start to the campaign, which saw Everton push into the top four.

But he has been without key striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for most of the season, while the spine of his team has been damaged with injuries to Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure, too. Pickford believes the quality in the squad is still there, though, and he says the only reaction to the crushing defeat at Manchester City is to show desire and fight to bounce back at Brentford on Sunday.

“We are all human but it is about working hard every day and giving 100 per cent on the training pitch, which we do,” he added. “It is about Brentford now. Every game in the Premier League is tough, but we need to get a result next weekend.”

Pickford also made it clear that the players cannot hide behind the injuries - or let the manager take the flak from disgruntled supporters. “We are all Premier League players and all have the quality. We have had a few injuries, but people get an opportunity to come in and we all have to take those opportunities,” he said.

“We are all capable of playing and when the manager picks his XI, we have to perform.

“You know you are up against it at City, they are a top side. The manager sets you up every week and you trust that plan. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.”