Pickford’s eager for an awayday lift-off

Former Sunderland star Jordan Pickford is determined to improve Everton’s away form.

The Toffees’ form has picked up since Sam Allardyce took charge in November, but it is largely based on four wins and two draws i n their seven home Premier League games.

Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Watford was the latest blow on the road for the ninthplaced Merseysiders, who are just three points behind seventh-top Burnley.

“I feel that, as a group of lads, we have come a long way,” the Washington-born England keeper (pictured) told evertonfc.com.

“It was always going to be a slow start when you bring new signings in, because you need time to gel and get that understanding going.

“I thought Watford was our chance to go and get three points away from home, but we couldn’t get going in the second half.

“We have taken a few positives, but we can’t dwell on it too much.

“We have got to be strong as a team, have a good week’s worth of training then go up to Burnley on Saturday.

“Our away form needs to improve.

“We’re Everton – we are not down the bottom of the league, we should be up there and that’s the type of game we need to be getting results from.

“But we know our home form is really good, and that we need to improve our record away.

“That’s where you really shoot right up the table.

“That’s where we want to be as a team and as a group of lads.

“We can only get better. We need to go and make the fans proud (with improved results away from home).”

Mansfield Town, fifth in League Two, are seeking a new manager.

Boss Steve Evans and assistant Paul Raynor resigned from their posts at Field Mill yesterday. Academy boss John Dempster has been placed in temporary charge of the team.