Good evening.

I will rarely say this going into a game directly after a loss but I am asking my players to deliver the same again.

A few minor details need tweaking but that is always the case, regardless of results, because we are constantly trying to improve and move forwards.

In terms of fight, effort and spirit, though, I want to see tonight exactly what we produced against Brentford on Sunday.

There is no point me downplaying the significance of this match. For three-and-a-half months as Everton manager, I have been completely absorbed by the task of keeping our club in the Premier League.

I know I’m far from alone in that respect – that any number of you are having sleepless nights thinking about Everton and all the different permutations.

It would be ridiculous of me, then, to suggest this is just another game. Let me reiterate, winning a relegation fight is a long way from what Everton represents and aspires to, and the groundwork is being laid to ensure we’re competing on very different fronts down the line.

But this is our reality right now and we are confronting it head on. The prize for victory over Crystal Palace is guaranteed survival and the ability to focus on future planning. We will do everything possible to obtain it.

The disappointment at the weekend had nothing to do with our performance. We saw an opportunity to secure our Premier League status there and then, and everything the players did in the opening part of the match indicated we were going to grab it.

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but we felt very hard done by after being on the wrong end of a decision that completely altered the course of the game.

I won’t expand here, because I made my feelings clear after the match. The incident is worth revisiting, though, to illustrate an important point.

When numbers were even, 11v11, we were completely in the ascendancy.

We had the advantage and looked good for more goals. The players carried out the gameplan to the letter and we were the faster, more purposeful and aggressive team.

I was proud of how we responded to the double blow of the sending off and Brentford’s equaliser to get back in front.

It was another example – after re-establishing a lead at Leicester recently – of the growing resilience and belief in our dressing room.

Ultimately, more than 70 minutes was a long time to play a man down against a side who move the ball with the speed and quality of Brentford.

We all felt low on Sunday night – and that is normal, defeats should hurt. We care deeply about Everton – as I alluded to, the Club occupies our thoughts every waking hour – so I can’t ask anyone to shrug off an adverse result.

By the same token, it was vital to put that irritation away after 24 hours, to refocus and recharge and hang on to the good elements, because there were plenty.

Among the positive aspects of the day, your support – again – was right up the list.

Your ability to sustain such an elevated level of passion and energy is inspiring. I have said previously that you raise the bar game-by-game. I wasn’t convinced it would be possible to lift it any higher following the coach welcome when we played Chelsea – but I should have known better by now.

The reception when we arrived for Brentford sent a bolt of electricity through us all. It was there in our beginning to the match – and, perhaps, the greatest frustration was that we couldn’t repay the backing you maintained from start to finish.

But our fate remains entirely in our own hands and we will unite for a massive effort under the Goodison lights.

We welcome Patrick Vieira and the staff and players of Crystal Palace.

It is another quality opponent and, to add to the challenge, we can expect Palace to play with the confidence and freedom of a team on a positive run.

I have enormous respect for Patrick, originally developed when we shared countless on-pitch battles, then crystallised as a player for New York City, where he was manager.

Patrick is clever and dedicated. He has devoted himself to this profession and his work over a full season – and pre-season – is reflected in a disciplined, progressive and exciting Crystal Palace team.

Our task of late has been complicated by injuries and we’re missing players tonight – but it was encouraging to see Dominic back and looking like a real force against Brentford.

He is a big player for us and an occasion like this calls for those key personalities.

It calls for every one of us to come together and give absolutely everything for our wonderful Club.

Together, let’s make this another Goodison night to remember.

Frank