Round Praises '12th Man'

Assistant boss says Blues must call on fans to overcome Middlesbrough.

Steve Round says Everton will need to call on the crowd and their recent confidence to overcome Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on Sunday.

The Blues' assistant manager has revealed how going 'back to basics' has helped the players turn their season around with three wins from the last three League games.

That process is set to continue with the visit of Gareth Southgate's side but Round warned the Toffees cannot afford to be complacent.

And having left it late in the games against Fulham, Bolton and West Ham, he added that the focus will be on finding the winning formula earlier.

"I think Middlesbrough are a really good team this year," he told evertonTV. "They're a young team but they've got energy, belief and a system that suits them.

"We want to try and set the tone early this time. There's nothing better than going in at half time one or two nil up.

"At the minute we're still trying to regain that form and confidence. We're taking small steps towards building a quality season and Sunday's going to play a big part in that.

"The crowd at home will play a massive part because if they get behind the team at Goodison there are not many places that are more fearsome to go to.

"The opposition will come and look at it and see Goodison is rocking and the team are on fire. That plays a massive part. It really is like the proverbial 12th man when you get the crowd behind you and it's a game we want to, and expect to, win. We'll be giving everything we can to make sure that happens."

Everton's return to form has come as no surprise to Round.

Since arriving at the Club from Newcastle in July, the 38-year-old has been impressed by what he has seen and is delighted fans are finally reaping the rewards of the squad’s true potential.

"The results have picked up, we look a fitter team, we look a stronger team, all our men are back playing and it's no surprise to me we're finishing the last 15 minutes of games really well. Our wins have come from that strength.

"Sometimes when things aren't going your way you have to get back to basics as everybody says. But that's true, you have to get back to being hard to beat and keeping clean sheets. If we do that with the forwards we've got and the creative players we're going to get a goal somewhere along the line."

“You need to build that confidence in steps and that comes from being quality at the back and strong - just what Everton have been over the last five or six years."

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