Carlo Ancelotti is vowing Everton will have a “different attitude” when they face Aston Villa on Thursday following an “unacceptable” performance at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Everton were beaten 3-0 by Wolves, Raul Jimenez’s penalty in first half-stoppage time and goals after the break from Leander Dendoncker and Diogo Jota snuffing out the Blues’ European ambitions.

Ancelotti’s side remain 11th in the Premier League table following a week when they picked up one point from three matches.

Everton returned from lockdown in good form, meetings with Liverpool, Norwich City and Leicester city yielding seven points.

And the manager insists he will not allow his side's season peter out, with games against Sheffield United and Bournemouth to follow this week’s clash with Villa.

“It was a really frustrating day, a frustrating performance,” said Ancelotti.

“We didn’t show good spirit.

“More than the technical and tactical aspect, which was not good enough, the spirit of the team was unacceptable.

“There are some excuses [for Everton’s performance] but I don’t want to have excuses.

“The performance was not acceptable.

“We have to prepare for the game [against Villa] and work differently and have a different attitude.

“I said to the players, 'This attitude is not acceptable to me'.

“We have to change immediately because we have a difficult game on Thursday and I want to see a different spirit.

“We have three games and have to finish the season in a different way.

“The attitude has to be different and it will be different.”

Manager Ancelotti started with a three-man defence at Molineux but switched to a back four after half-time.

That change brought a debut for 18-year-old Jarrad Branthwaite, signed from Carlisle United six months ago.

He came on at centre-half for a tough baptism, with Wolves doubling their advantage straight after the restart when Dendoncker’s flicked header converted a free-kick from Pedro Neto.

Substitute Jota wrapped things up when he fastened onto a wonderful 60-yard pass from Ruben Neves to rifle in at the near post.

Wolves had gone in front when Jimenez blasted home his penalty after Lucas Digne impeded Daniel Podence in the box.

This was Ancelotti’s 17th Premier League game in charge and only the second time he has been of the opinion his side failed to compete.

The 61-year-old concedes he’ll forgive a below-par performance but insists the spirit and application which have characterised the majority of Everton’s displays with Ancelotti as boss should come as a given.

“Since I arrived the team did well in general, we had some good perforrmances,” said Ancelotti.

“We competed with all the teams, apart from Chelsea and this [against Wolves].

“In some games the spirit was really good.

“It is difficult to accept [today] for this reason.

“This squad has a fighting spirit.

“Maybe it was because we were far from the Europa League [qualification] and the players didn’t believe we could reach it.

“We have to show professionalism on the pitch.

“The team was not good from the beginning until the end.

“You can lose the game but you don’t have to lose spirit and concentration.

“Wolves were better than us.

“We have to work together and prepare well for next season.

“We would like to be towards the top [of the league], this is the target.”

Asked about debutant Branthwaite, Ancelotti added: “He did his job, he came on in a difficult game where it was not good enough on the pitch.

“He did well and it was good experience for him.

“We are counting on him for the future,

“He has to improve but he has the quality to be with us.”