Branthwaite’s ‘Confidence’ Call For Merseyside Derby

Jarrad Branthwaite believes Everton can take confidence from a much-improved second-half display in the Blues' 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday – but acknowledges the first-half performance wasn’t up to the high standards set in recent outings.

The FA Cup fourth-round tie at Goodison Park saw the Toffees struggle in the early stages, conceding to Antoine Semenyo’s 23^rd-minute penalty, before Daniel Jebbison capitalised on errors in the Everton defence to double the Cherries’ lead just before the interval.

Fighting back in the contest, the Toffees appeared much more dangerous after half-time, recording nine shots – seven more than they managed in the first 45 minutes.

Unlucky not to score at least one, Everton hit the woodwork three times in the second half – the first time they’ve done so in a single half of any competition since September 2020.

“I think we sort of shot ourselves in the foot in the first half,” Branthwaite told evertontv. “And, you know, against top teams and teams at a higher level, you're going to get punished. And then obviously the second half was completely different.

“I think that was probably the message after the game. The first half wasn't good enough, it didn't start quick enough, we put pressure on ourselves, we gave goals away and then the second half it's completely different.

“We go more direct, and we create loads of chances in the second half and hit the post the post three or four times and on a different day, they go in.

“We created all the chances, but we just couldn't put them away, which has probably been something that hasn't happened the past three or four games – we’ve been taking those chances.”

The 22-year-old defender has started every game so far under the returning manager David Moyes, and Branthwaite – comfortable on both his right and left foot – says he’s enjoying the new style of play the team is adopting.

“It's going really well; I'm enjoying the way him and his staff are putting the sessions on and trying to make us play,” he explained.

“We've got an idea when we go out on the pitch of how we're wanting to play and how we're trying to deal with each team so, it's been good. I'm looking forward to working under him more and learning from him.”

The Toffees next outing is a big one. The last ever Merseyside derby at Goodison Park kicks off on Wednesday evening (7.30pm GMT)

After a 2-0 win in the famous fixture last season, Branthwaite says he and the squad “know they can beat” their local rivals – and will take belief from that into Wednesday’s game.  

“I think everyone's looking forward to it,” he added. “It'll be a big atmosphere and a big game and, for me, it's just it's a game everyone wants to play in. But it's just another game and we've got to be focused for it.

“Through Monday and Tuesday now, we've got to be ready, we've got to be on it and then you know take it on Wednesday. We know we can beat them, we know what happened last season.

“We take confidence from that and take confidence from the previous results that we've had in the last three or four games and go into it with momentum.”