SAM PLAYING MIND GAMES

Allardyce after brain gain

SAM ALLARDYCE is drafting in a sports psychologist to help his Everton squad cope with the mental pressure he feels is holding them back.

The new Toffees boss believes his side need some added brain power to climb the table.

For the moment, though, his own mind tricks are working just fine.

Having inspired Everton to a 4-0 win over West Ham from the stands last week, Allardyce collected three points from his first game in the dugout thanks to strikes from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Allardyce still plans to bring in an expert to work on his players’ minds.

“If the brain is clear and positive before the lads go out, then they produce a positive performance,” said Allardyce.

“If the brain is clouded and doubtful, you don’t see a player produce the abilities he has got.

“That has obviously been seen on a couple of occasions here, with the lack of confidence from the lack of results. You have to turn that round as quick as you can and build that confidence and let it grow.

“Hopefully we can do that. But there is nothing better than two wins on the trot.”

Sigurdsson got the opener after a clever backheel from Calvert-Lewin.

The £45m signing from Swansea is one of the more “clouded” players mentally, according to his new boss.

“Absolutely,” said Allardyce. “You are playing on a bigger stage and arena, so you have to have a greater mentality to come out and produce because the demand is higher.

“No disrespect to Swansea and the Swansea fans, these fans have greater demand for a player that comes to play for Everton.” Calvert-Lewin grabbed the second with 17 minutes left after a fine pass from Wayne Rooney. Striker Calvert-Lewin believes things are looking up ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby, saying: “Everyone feels like they have a new lease of life now.

“It is a good time for the manager to come in. I feel he has put his stamp on us pretty early with what he wants us to do.

“We have much more confidence after the last two games.”

While Everton are recovering, Huddersfield are on the slide.

They have lost seven of their last eight away games and haven’t scored on the road since the opening day of the season.

Boss David Wagner said: “We have to keep on fighting. I have every trust we can change this if we stay focused on ourselves and do not think too much on what happened.”