Everton don't know how to keep a lead under Martinez

Surrendering leads has plagued Roberto Martinez since taking Everton job

Farhad Moshiri will be at Goodison Park to watch Everton face Chelsea in the FA Cup this evening, with the billionaire yet to speak to Roberto Martinez.

In front of their Iranian investor, they will hope they don’t do what they have been prone to do this season: take the lead, then throw it away.

No club has dropped more points from winning positions in the Premier League this season and Everton have conceded the most at home too with the win never assured.

Everton have a knack for shooting themselves in the foot and it was evident in Martinez’s debut season, when they finished fifth.

They dropped 12 points from winning positions in 2013-14, which happened to be the difference between them and Liverpool in second.

It was the same the season after too as they dropped 19 points in 2014-15 – the most in the Premier League – and it is continuing to be the case in 2015-16.

 

Everton have a knack for shooting themselves in the foot and it was evident in Martinez’s debut season, when they finished fifth.

They dropped 12 points from winning positions in 2013-14, which happened to be the difference between them and Liverpool in second.

It was the same the season after too as they dropped 19 points in 2014-15 – the most in the Premier League – and it is continuing to be the case in 2015-16.

They have scored the most first-half goals this season (26) but that means nothing if you cannot defend in the second, with Everton having lost seven of their 15 games at Goodison this season.

Their 26 goals conceded at home is the worst in the Premier League – even more than Aston Villa, who are destined for the Championship.

Martinez insists Everton should only be judged at the end of the season but, if they lose to Chelsea, then it is as good as over.

‘When you see the work of the players and then you don't get the rewards you deserve, it is painful,’ Martinez said. '[It is] a pain we share with all the fans. The frustration is there.

‘I think we were all in the same boat (after the West Ham game).

‘We've seen outstanding signs this season and that is why it is so frustrating to see in games where we are winning, we throw it away.’

Had they not dropped 14 points this season, they would be level with Arsenal in third, and the Toffees cannot afford to let a lead slip against Chelsea if they get one today.

Everton have been labelled a soft touch by supporters previously but, for Martinez’s men, it’s time they toughened up.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari may have given the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the nod to probe ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan. According to The Punch, President Buhari’s special assistant on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a chat on Friday, March 11, noted that there was no secret agreement between the present and past presidents to exempt Jonathan from the list of corrupt people to be probed by this administration.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/761524-president-buhari-gives-efcc-go-ahead-over-probe-of-jonathan.html