Coleman: ‘We’re all together’
GOAL hero Seamus Coleman hailed Everton’s fighting spirit after climbing out of the bottom three with victory over Leeds.
The veteran Irish defender scored a spectacular second-half winner to leave Goodison Park rocking and hand boss Sean Dyche a second crucial victory in his three games in charge.
And Coleman pinpointed an ugly first-half brawl between both sets of players as evidence Everton are scrapping for their Premier League lives.
“It can go either way, you can gain momentum or lose momentum in those moments,” said the Toffees captain.
“But we want to show we are all together and all fighting and we have to give our fans something to support and when we do you saw them at the end there.
“Throughout the match they were massive. It’s three points and we move onto the next one game by game.”
On whether his goal was deliberate or a cross, Coleman said: “I suppose everyone was expecting the cross.
“But the way my hip was feeling I couldn’t wrap my leg around it so I just thought I’d have a shot because I knew he’d be anticipating the cross.
“Thankfully I caught it well, I wouldn’t catch it like that if I tried again another 10 times. But we got what we deserved, to be honest.”
Dyche was delighted especially with wins for relegation rivals Southampton and Bournemouth.
And he vowed to help turn Goodison Park into a fortress.
“We want to make this a tough place to come and we are doing that with two wins and two clean sheets since I came,” said Dyche.
“Home form is a big help, we want it to become a fortress. We’re getting there but it takes time and belief.”
And he saluted captain Coleman for his vital goal, saying: “Seamus keeps playing and training with that edge and that’s key for me. Age is irrelevant. It was a fantastic run and finish.”
Leeds caretaker Michael Skubala refused to blame keeper Illan Meslier for allowing Coleman’s winner.
“lllan has been caught off his line and maybe I’ll have to look at his positioning – but he’s been a huge player for us.
“We needed to be better with the ball, create more chances and it’s something we will look at.”
He added:“we could have been braver and done more with the ball but we have good players and I’m confident we will get out of trouble.”