Jordan Pickford believes the Everton squad has "come a long way" but accepts the Blues must start matching their Goodison Park form on the road in order to progress further.

The Toffees have been rock solid at the Grand Old Lady under Sam Allardyce, picking up four wins and two draws from seven matches - their only loss coming against second-placed Manchester United on New Year's Day. 

Everton have also conceded fewer goals and taken more points per game since Allardyce took charge to move to within three points of Burnley in seventh spot, having been two points off the relegation zone on the eve of his appointment in late November.

But Pickford knows the form away from home comforts is another chance to "really shoot up the table” and, after the weekend's 1-0 loss at Watford, the keeper has called on the Toffees to show more on the road, starting with Saturday's trip to take on the Clarets at Turf Moor.

“I feel that, as a group of lads, we have come a long way,” the England international told evertonfc.com. “It was always going to be a slow start when you bring new signings in because you need time to gel and get that understanding going.

“I thought Watford was our chance to go and get three points away from home. But we couldn’t get going in the second half. We have taken a few positives but we can’t dwell on it too much. We have got to be strong as a team, have a good week’s worth of training then go up to Burnley on Saturday.

“Our away form needs to improve. We’re Everton – we are not down the bottom of the league, we should be up there and that’s the type of game we need to be getting results from. But we know our home form is really good, and that we need to improve our record away. That’s where you really shoot right up the table. That’s where we want to be as a team and as a group of lads.

“We can only get better. We are Everton; we need to go and make the fans proud (with improved results away from home)."

Despite the setback against Watford, the Blues remain ninth in the Premier League table and within touching distance of Burnley. Pickford insists it is still all to play for, especially given the Toffees can move level on points with the Clarets with a win on Saturday.

“We are not far away from seventh at all,” he added. “We need to go to Turf Moor and try to win. It is always tough to do that there.

“I have only played there once [for Preston in December 2015] but I won that game [2-0] so hopefully I can keep that record up.

“It is always going to be tough away from home against Burnley. But we need to roll our sleeves up as a team and go there and get a result.”