Ronald Koeman targets European place for Everton after win at Sunderland

Ronald Koeman has told his Everton players he expects them to challenge for a European place this season after their 3-0 win at Sunderland.

Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick gave them a deserved victory at the Stadium of Light but the Dutchman was not happy with his side's display before the break.

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They went into the interval still level after a lacklustre display - and Koeman has stressed his team must keep performing to the standards they reached after the restart if they are to fulfil his aim.

He told Monday Night Football: "I think we will be one of the teams who fight for European football. That's a really realistic target.

"We showed that today in the second half - but if we play like the first, I think we will be in 13th or 14th place.

"We need to fight for European football. The players showed the level they can be at and that was in the second half. They are not stupid. They know how they can perform.

"I was really disappointed about our first 45 minutes. From the start, it was not the Everton I like to see. We lost a lot of easy balls - too many players were not on our level in possession.

"We had difficulties but the second half was what I like to see: good football, we had good pressing and we had opportunities to score more goals."

"Sometimes you need to make hard decisions at half time and hope for a good reaction. That reaction came in the second half."

Lukaku's treble came after he had gone 13 Everton games - or 1,139 minutes - without scoring, a run which dated back to March.

Koeman's faith in the forward remained high before he ended his drought and he added: "I did not have doubts about that, of course.

"I think the two goals Romelu scored with Belgium gave him a boost and it's unbelievable how good he can be.

"Strikers look to score goals and it's always a little doubt in his mind about not scoring for Everton but I told him the best answer is always on the pitch. It was a great performance."

While Lukaku was the obvious factor in a handsome win, the service he received was as crucial. Yannick Bolasie stood out, while Idrissa Gueye's presence in midfield was significant.

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On the latter, signed in the summer from Aston Villa, Koeman said: "I think maybe he was the key tonight, already in the first half but overall in the second half it was the same.

"He's a player with a lot of energy. Off the ball he is quiet and takes up good positions and he's really that key player in the midfield that you need. It's a great signing for us."

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