Roberto calls on Goodison's 12th man

, 16 April, 0comments  |  Jump to most recent

Roberto Martinez has highlighted the vital role that Everton's raucous home support can play when they're on song and has called upon supporters to match the atmosphere of the Arsenal game when Crystal Palace visit this evening.

Three of the Blues' remaining five games are at Goodison Park and with home advantage proving so important this season — Everton have lost just once on home turf this campaign — that could be a huge factor in whether the club realises the dream of Champions League qualification.

Arsenal reclaimed fourth spot with victory over West Ham last night but Martinez's men can take it back again with a win over Tony Pulis' much-improved Eagles.

Martinez is wary of the threat posed by Palace, who have pulled themselves clear of the relegation zone since the teams last met with an impressive run of form.

“You are not going to get a better defensive set-up in the Barclays Premier League than Crystal Palace," the Catalan says. “We all know the threat they carry on the counter-attack and from dead-ball situations and the strategy work they do."

Having orchestrated a seven-match winning run, four of those coming at home, Martinez is fully aware of the shot in the arm his players get when Goodison is rocking under the floodlights.

“We need to get the balance right in getting a clear picture, like the atmosphere we created against Arsenal," he says. "We are the most fortunate team in the league in terms of home games.

“[I]t is just an internal feeling about Goodison. As a player at Everton you can feel your crowd and that makes you run an extra yard and run that yard quicker, and you don't get tired.

“And then you have the opposite side as an away player. You feel that chemistry between the home fans and home players, it can be intimidating and you find it hard to express yourself as a footballer.

“In the same way, that feeling can work against us if we take games for granted and are thinking we just need to turn up and we will win games. So, it is a double-edged sword."

Article continues below video content


Quotes sourced from Liverpool Echo





About these ads

© ToffeeWeb