Roberto Martinez praises 'ruthless' Everton after Sunderland win

Roberto Martinez says his Everton players were rewarded for their ruthless streak in the final third

Roberto Martinez praised Everton's ruthless streak after they hit six past Sunderland in the Premier League.

Arouna Kone fired his first Everton hat-trick as Everton breezed past Sunderland with a 6-2 victory to move up to eighth in the league.

Everton were also aided by an own goal from Sebastian Coates but the impressive Gerard Deulofeu and Romelu Lukaku also found the net as Martinez hailed his side's attacking display as 'special.

"It was a fantastic game to watch. That's what you want in football," Martinez told Sky Sports.

Image: Romelu Lukaku celebrates Everton's fourth

"You want to see chances and attacking football. From our point of view we knew Sunderland had changed their system.

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"We knew they wanted to make it very difficult for us to have attacking play and I thought our movement, our understanding of how to penetrate, our composure on the ball and that ruthless streak in the final third was special.

"We always look to improve and I think we need to do a bit better defensively," he added. "We were so much in control that we forgot we could get hurt and that's why we conceded the first goal.

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Arouna Kone was proud of his first Premier League hat-trick which helped Everton to a 6-2 win over Sunderland

"Overall, to score six goal, and we could have scored more, was outstanding."

Despite racing into a two-goal lead, Everton were pegged back by goals from Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher as the visitors got back into the game.

However, three goals in eight minutes turned the game back in Everton's favour and Martinez was impressed with his side's ability to recover from Sunderland's strikes.

"We got a two goal lead and it seemed like we were in full control," he said. "It was a massive blow to concede just before half-time.

"Then at the start of the second half it seemed like we had something to lose and Sunderland are pushing forward.

"They got a goal very quickly and at that point there is a real question mark. I think you need to know how to play the game from that moment and to control it and we were magnificent."

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