Martinez: A positive performance with resilience via Royal Blue Mersey
Post-match quotes from the manager
Everton labored to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace, with both sides responsible for missing gilt-edged chances to take all three points. James McCarthy was dismissed early in the second half and from then on it was going to be a pitched battle, but the Blues held on, more due to abysmal finishing from the home side than anything else.
Here's what Roberto Martinez had to say about the point gained from the draw –
"Absolutely.
"That is the word of that second-half performance and what we had to show.
"On top of that, resilience on its own is not enough, you need to have a really good tactical awareness and I thought we showed that.
"We were very clear in what we wanted to do.
"And the next one is managing the game in a way that could allow us to have our threat as well.
"Yes, Joel Robles had two or three moments of outstanding concentration and quality but, equally, if you look at it after the 90 minutes then Hennessey had to show the same level.
"Funes Mori, Seamus Coleman, Ross Barkley all had good chances. Overall, I am pleased with the role we had to take in the second-half, over 45 minutes with 10 men against a team like Crystal Palace that can easily use their direct play to get the ball in the box and test you, constantly.
"After winning against Norwich we knew they had that confidence back in their play and so keep a clean sheet and manage the game in the way we did, is the perfect timing in the season.
"It is probably something we have not done well enough this season and it is great to see we are learning from our hard lessons and the timing of this performance is perfect."
Martinez also commented about a couple of refereeing decisions that he felt went against the Blues –
"When I was watching live I thought it was a yellow card. When you watch it more carefully, you see the opposite. It is very, very harsh. Bolasie is very clever and goes through McCarthy, James' body can't disappear and I thought Bolasie was looking for the contact. He didn't intend to get in the way of the Crystal Palace player.
"I thought [Seamus] was very honest. There was contact but he gets up very quickly. I have seen them given and I thought it could have been a penalty but I understand the referee's decision.
"We tried to win the game with 10 men and we carried some threat but we defended well as well.
"We know how to play with 10 men and it was pleasing the way we managed the game."
When asked about why he derived so much pleasure from a solitary point –
"Whatever you do over 10 months, what matters is what you can do in the final weeks of the campaign.
"We lost too many leads, lost too many points at home. Away we have been very consistent, just two defeats the whole season is a very good record but at home we have had eight defeats and that has hurt us too much.
"We are now facing a semi-final so it is now you want to hit top level, it is not good to do it in August or September and then lose it.
"We did it the other way round and everything you do at the training ground and the work you do with the squad is to shine in the last few weeks of the season.
"I think the Watford performance showed signs of that solid approach and today, it was a fantastic test to show what we are."
Needless to say, the performance yesterday gives Toffees nothing to be pleased about going into the weekend.
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