Jarrad Branthwaite says Everton won’t ease off

LONDON: Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite insists the players will not allow the euphoria of a rare Merseyside derby win to distract them from the priority of securing top-flight safety.

The 2-0 victory over Liverpool was their first at Goodison Park in almost 14 years and only their second in the last 30 encounters overall and it moved them eight points clear of 18th-placed Luton with four matches remaining.

That virtually concludes a third successive successful battle against relegation, but Branthwaite, who scored the key opening goal, said until safety was mathematically guaranteed there would be no easing up.

“Anything can happen in the Premier League. Teams can pick up points when you least expect it,” he said.“We need to focus on ourselves and take every game as it comes, focus on what we can do to keep ourselves safe.

“It’s another step in the right direction, but nothing is done yet.”Everton host Brentford on Saturday looking for a fourth successive home win and against Liverpool they looked a different side from the one hammered 6-0 10 days ago against Chelsea.

Branthwaite, who rated scoring as “probably the best moment of my Everton career”, said the nature of the opposition helped but revealed there had been some soul-searching within the squad after their Stamford Bridge debacle.

“The stature of the game maybe brings out an extra edge in players, given what it means in the city. It’s important for people,” he added. “We were the underdogs and it was a massive result for us as a team and the fans.

“After Chelsea, it was about focusing on ourselves and doing the basics well.“If you do the basics and work hard as a unit, you’re going to pick up results along the way.“That was his (manager Sean Dyche’s) main message – to get back to basics, run harder and more than the other team, win your battles and it’ll take care of itself.”