Marco Silva is challenging his Everton players to consistently recreate the “speed, intensity and desire” which overwhelmed West Ham United on Saturday.

Silva made five changes to his side for the Hammers' visit and urged Everton to embrace the pressure and responsibility of halting a run of four Premier League defeats.

The Blues duly served up a turbo-charged performance – with Academy graduate Tom Davies prompting from midfield and praised by Silva for a “very good and controlled” contribution – and the victory which could ignite their campaign.

Everton travel to Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend aiming to achieve back-to-back victories and put a dent in their four-point gap to the top six.

>>>BECOME A DIGITAL MEMBER FOR FREE AND WATCH SILVA'S INTERVIEW ABOVE OR BY CLICKING HERE<<<

Asked if his side had set a benchmark for the season, starting on the south coast against Brighton, Silva told evertontv: ”Definitely. We knew spaces would appear for us when we had the ball and were really assertive in those moments.

“Our build up and offensive organisation was fast and with quality.

“We had many, many moments with players playing one-two touch, playing forward with desire.

“Playing with freedom as well, how we planned our game and like we do every single day at Finch Farm.

“Our reaction when we lost the ball was really good, our balance was good as well – our first pressure, too.”

>>>FULL IN-DEPTH SILVA INTERVIEW AVAILABLE TO SEASON TICKET, LOUNGE AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS - CLICK HERE OR BELOW TO WATCH NOW<<<

Silva was captured on camera lost in the moment celebrating Bernard’s opening strike against West Ham, while assistant Goncalo Pedro leapt gleefully from the bench.

The Portuguese admitted he enjoyed seeing the image – but was as happy with his team’s performance as the outcome, which was sealed when Gylfi Sigurdsson found the net with an explosive 25-yard effort in stoppage time.

Even in victory, though, Silva was unable to slow down his mind on Saturday night.

“After the match it is never easy to switch off in the night,” said Silva.

“Of course we were happy but it is not the moment to switch off.

“I start to think about what we did and what we should do in the next few days to start to prepare well for the next game.”

He continued: “The picture was really, really good. More because of Goncalo’s reaction than mine.

“But the feeling was really good because we’d had a fantastic chance with Tom, then we scored a very good goal from Bernard.

“The performance is the main thing. [I was happy] Not just because we won the game but the way we won the game.

“The way we achieved it, with a plan… we asked the players to do some important things in the match and they understood and did them.

“When I see that on the pitch it is a very good feeling.

“We were brave and I saw that togetherness I asked to see.

“After that the quality of the football, the collective performance was very good, individual performances as well and the crowd was really good.”

Midfielder Davies started in the Premier League for the 50th time – but first since 9 February – and emphatically grabbed his opportunity.

Silva was pleased with the 21-year-old’s mature display in a deep-lying position – and identifies with Evertonians who relish seeing homegrown players excelling on the big stage.

“It is really important to me and you know even last season what we did with Tom, giving him more responsibility in some games and being our captain," added Silva.

“I know how it is important for our fans to see him more. It is important to give chances to players from our Academy and it was very good to see Tom performing well.

“He had a very good game, in my opinion, disciplined and understanding the moments of the game to press the opponent, when to be more in control of the position as well.

“He played the second half on a yellow card (Davies was booked shortly after half-time) and he was controlled and managed that well.

“I was really pleased to see how he got the chance and had a good game.”