Sunday 31 August 2014 08:39, UK
Everton boss Roberto Martinez was left baffled by the defensive lapses which saw his side suffer a 6-3 home defeat at the hands of Chelsea.
The home side were two goals down inside the opening 10 minutes as Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic struck, before Kevin Mirallas pulled a goal back before the interval.
An astonishing 10-minute spell midway through the second period saw the two teams trade goals as Seamus Coleman put through his own net before Steven Naismith, Nemanja Matic, Samuel Eto’o and Ramires all struck.
Costa completed the scoring in added time after a blunder from substitute Muhamed Besic and Martinez accepted Everton were always chasing the game after their early lapses.
The two boxes are going to dictate the scoreline and we were too soft with our defending. Every time the ball was around our 18-yard box we had a real sense of fear of it ending up in the back of the net.
He said: "We started the game very uncharacteristically. It seemed we didn't have that defensive intensity, that focus that you have to have - especially against a team like Chelsea where you need to start sharply.
"We were chasing the game, but even when we went 2-0 down, we reacted really well.
"I thought we were very good going forward in the way we controlled the game for long spells and created chances to score three goals. I don't think many teams will score three against Chelsea this season.
"But the two boxes are going to dictate the scoreline and we were too soft with our defending. Every time the ball was around our 18-yard box we had a real sense of fear of it ending up in the back of the net.
"We have conceded 10 goals in three games and that's not like us at all. We have a back five that we didn't change the whole of last season when we kept 15 clean sheets but, at the moment, we are not at that level.”
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was unhappy with some of the treatment Costa received, with the Spain international booked for tangling with Coleman before later exchanging words with the defender after his own goal, a move which upset Martinez.
"There are certain foreign players who come to the Premier League who need to understand the ethics and the culture as the behaviour in the British game is unique,” he said.
"The last thing you want to see is disrespect from a player to another player and I am sure he will learn that very quickly.
"There is a real professionalism and respect in the league so you can understand why the players weren't happy with that, in the same way of trying to buy free-kicks with the way he plays.
"I will not fall into that trap of being disrespectful."
