Sunday 10 April 2016 11:25, UK
Under-pressure Everton boss Roberto Martinez insists the growing discontent among the club's supporters is not having a detrimental effect on his team.
Prior to Everton's 1-1 draw at Watford on Saturday, the visiting section unfurled two banners, one which described Leighton Baines, who was forced to apologise for criticising his team following their 1-0 defeat at Manchester United, as "one of us", while the other demanded for Martinez to go.
They also jeered the stalemate, which, following victories by Bournemouth and Swansea, sees Everton drop to 14th in the table.
But when asked if their dissatisfaction is doing little to help Everton's cause, a defiant Martinez replied: "No, it is the opposite. We share that feeling.
"The fans are allowed to express their views, and once the game started the support was magnificent. For me they are the best fans in world football."
Martinez, meanwhile, thought Everton were unlucky not to leave Vicarage Road with all three points after a run of three straight Premier League defeats.
"I felt the performance was very solid," he said. "Away from home you know you are going to get tested by this Watford side that is full of energy and who press you, they want to stop you from playing.
"They have that direct threat from the two strikers, but I thought we coped with that really well. And you saw the amount of opportunities and those moments that you feel is just one pass away from getting someone clear in front of goal.
"It shows you the way we were able to penetrate through this Watford defence and team that are very well drilled.
"So the disappointment is to concede so close to half-time from a corner. It is a very unfortunate goal to give away, a header that hits a Watford player on his back and it goes in.
"But the reaction was very good and we created a real good period of pressure in the second half. Joel had two very good saves, but apart from that over the course of the game, if you look at the opportunities, we feel disappointed we could not get the three points.
"But you have to congratulate Watford, who had a really solid performance I thought."
There was an element of controversy, however, surrounding Watford's equaliser at the end of the first half, with Greek centre-back Jose Holebas heading home in the fourth minute of stoppage time, despite only one extra minute having ben signalled.
"We scored obviously and then it seems their corner was allowed to be taken," Martinez said. "In football it is the time that matters and with the corner, as you take the corner the time is up.
"I do not know exactly what the time was at that particular moment, but it felt like the corner was going to be allowed to be taken.
"Top or bottom, though, we have to be able to defend that dead-ball situation a lot better and if we had gone in at half-time with that goal lead, it probably would have been a different game in the second half.
"But I am pleased we did not allow that to give momentum to Watford and we adapted to what we needed to do really well."
As for suggestions the visitors lacked the necessary attacking qualies to win the match, Martinez disagreed.
"I would not say quality, the quality is there if you look at players like Aaron Lennon, Romelu Lukaku, Gerard Deulofeu and Kevin Mirallas, the quality is there," said the Spaniard.
"Sometimes luck plays a big part and others that little bit of confidence. And momentum as we are on the back of three negative results and it is going to be the case. Sometimes you have to create a more clear-cut opportunity to score a goal.
"But what I am delighted about is the way we stopped Watford from having a real say in the game and on the other hand we had enough opportunities to win it. When you create chances, the goals and the confidence in front of goal will come."
Everton host Southampton on Wednesday, but Phil Jagielka is unlikely to feature after sustaining a hamstring injury, while Ross Barkley also limped off with a knee problem.
On Barkley, Martinez added: "He had a knock and he couldn't really stretch his legs in the second half. That was a real disappointment as I thought he looked really fresh.
"He created a real problem to the Watford defence, and I don't think they could cope with his movement and his understanding of the space.
"We are going to assess him tonight and see how serious that knock it. I don't think it is a serious problem, to prevent him from being involved on Wednesday.
"Jagielka is probably a bigger worry. He felt his hamstring and Phil doesn't get injured that often. When he asks to come off it is a worry."
