Everton skipper Phil Jagielka believes today's clash with Premier League leaders Manchester City can give the Blues a platform to "push on" and finish the season on a positive note.
The Toffees followed up their convincing 2-0 home victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on 10 March with a battling win at Stoke City a fortnight ago.
The victory took Everton’s points tally under boss Sam Allardyce to 25 – a total bettered by only five Premier League clubs since he took the reins in late November. With seven games of the season to go, Jagielka wants the Blues - who currently sit just three points off seventh-placed Burnley - to build on this momentum and is targeting a strong finish to the campaign.
“We want to be pushing on,” said the centre-back. “Since the new manager came in, results wise it has been a steady incline and it is putting us back on a steady footing.
“Our league position is not too bad and there is a chance – if we go on a run – we can finish not too far off where people may have expected us to finish, having had a positive season. That is what we need to look for from now until the end of the season.”
Jagielka says the side’s gritty win over Stoke – in freezing conditions at the bet365 Stadium – showed the side’s “togetherness” and the Blues will undoubtedly need to showcase their resolve again when they face Premier League pacesetters Manchester City on Saturday.
The 36-year-old – who has played 371 times for the Blues since signing from Sheffield United back in 2007 – is confident the Toffees possess the qualities to cause City problems.
“They’ve [City] gone to a new level this year,” he said. “Their movement is brilliant at times but there are chinks in the armour, it has been proven this season and is up to us to look at those. I expect a busy day off the ball but on the ball we must make sure we put them under as much pressure as possible.”
After missing four games through injury, Jagielka returned to the Everton starting XI in the win over Brighton earlier this month, producing a towering display alongside Michael Keane at centre-back.
The skipper was also a commanding presence in the Blues’ victory over Stoke last time out and his worth to the side is emphasised by the fact Everton have won the past three matches he has started.
Jagielka has relished the opportunity to play his part in Everton’s improved form, as well as helping the Blues’ young talent and new signings acclimatise to the Club.
“When I get my chance it is about doing my best – if we are winning it strengthens my case to stay in but I am enjoying playing,” he added. “It is nice to use my experience with people around me, to talk to them and let them grow into their stature at this Club.”
One player who has certainly settled in to his new surroundings is January signing Cenk Tosun.
The Turkish international has netted four goals in his past three matches, while his strength and link-up play has also impressed.
It is not just the 26-year-old’s lethal finishing which has made an impression on the Blues skipper, however, with Tosun already a hugely-popular figure in the Everton changing room.
Jagielka is backing the striker to get even better as his confidence soars.
“His character and bubbliness around the dressing room is great,” said Jagielka. “He is a confident lad – strikers seem to be that way. He has had to bide his time and it was fantastic to see him get his first goal away at Burnley. Since then, even in training, you can see more confidence so I don’t think we have seen the best of him.
"But it is down to us – people like Theo (Walcott), Yannick (Bolasie) and Seamus (Coleman) – to be putting balls in because he seems to come alive, especially in the air.”