Saturday 31 January 2015 21:44, UK
Everton boss Roberto Martinez has urged his side to kick-on and fulfil their potential after returning to winning ways away at Crystal Palace.
Romelu Lukaku’s second minute goal proved to be the difference at Selhurst Park, as the Toffees secured a 1-0 victory to end their run of six Premier League games without a win.
Everton had failed to register an away victory since beating Burnley in October prior to victory in South London, and Martinez feels the win could be a real turning point.
“It feels like a real start in our season,” Martinez told Sky Sports. “We want to get a good momentum and I feel now in terms of the squad we feel in a position that we can start showing the level we can reach.
“I think that it has been very tough for us to come to terms with many things not going our way and not being able to fulfil our potential, but today’s win is immense.
“From the first second that we got our goal we defended really well, we always carried a real threat and it was a well-deserved three points.”
A second successive clean sheet gave Everton their first back-to-back league shutouts since April, with the win moving the Toffees seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Victory was Everton’s first in nine in all competitions, but Martinez had plenty of reasons why the three points were extra special.
“Not just because they (Palace) are on a fantastic run of form, but the way they’ve been scoring goals with ease,” he added.
“I don’t think we’ve had the best of luck with Palace in the past few seasons, so it was great today to be so professional and so strong in our performance.
“I thought John (Stones) and Phil (Jagielka) show a better understanding game and game, and Joel (Robles) as well didn’t put a foot wrong. Very commanding, very confident and that gives you a very strong platform that you need in a place like today to get a positive result.”
