Saturday 19 December 2015 20:33, UK
Roberto Martinez said he was disappointed his Everton players failed to make home advantage count during Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Leicester.
Goals from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas proved in vain as Riyad Mahrez (two penalties) and Shinji Okazaki helped move the Foxes five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The result keeps Everton in 10th place, and Martinez believes his side have to make Goodison Park a fortress if they are to arrest their current form, which has seen them fail to win in their last five games.
"We need to learn how to use these games in our advantage, and to make Goodison a real advantage for us to play our football," he said.
"It takes games. We need to get on the pitch as quickly as we can, and get rid of that feeling of performing well but not getting the three points.
"Getting those big blows - three goals that came from nowhere - are real shocks. Our confidence and way of playing got affected.
"Our performance was not as good as it could have been, but clearly you're playing against a team with know-how, a clear way of playing and they attract positivity. That's why they're top of the league."
Martinez was quick to praise Leicester - who will top the table at Christmas - but says his players gifted the visitors too many opportunities throughout Saturday's encounter.
"Why are Leicester in the position they're in? It's because they play with bravery and a clear idea of what they want to do," he said.
"We stopped them from having a big say in what they're good at; the counter attack and their goalscoring threat. All of a sudden, you get two penalties from disappointing positions on the pitch.
"We allowed ourselves to get frustrated with our tempo. Scoring two goals at home - we should never have lost that game. We know where the work is and where we have to improve and clearly today is one of those moments that really hurt.
"You can see why Leicester are top of the league, but we shouldn't let them have their way at Goodison."
