Main PageJagielka issues FA Cup rallying cry
Liverpool - Everton captain Phil Jagielka says his side
must attempt to use their FA Cup third-round tie at
home to West Ham United on Tuesday to turn their
faltering season around.
Everton have lost four consecutive games in the
Premier League, which has seen them slide to 13th
place, four points above the relegation zone, and are
in desperate need of something to spark an upturn
in results.
However, the weight of history does not favour
Roberto Martinez's side, with West Ham having won
their last four FA Cup ties against Everton in a run
stretching back to 1963.
The last meeting between the teams in the
competition came in 1991, when the east London
club triumphed 2-1 in a sixth-round tie.
But Jagielka has urged his team-mates to forget that
record and their recent league form, and reignite
their campaign.
"We're very frustrated at the moment because
results are a lot poorer than we expect," the England
defender said.
"But it is up to us to turn the corner. It is going to be
a tough period before the next league game and
obviously with the FA Cup now we need to turn the
season around.
"I think confidence is quite low throughout the team
due to the results. We've got some really talented
players and we've been playing some OK football,
but unfortunately, the results haven't shown that.
"It's only up to us pick ourselves up, to start
performing better and hopefully start winning
games."
Martinez will check on the fitness of Kevin Mirallas
(ankle) after he was withdrawn at half-time in
Thursday's 2-0 loss at Hull City, while James
McCarthy could return after missing that game with
a hamstring injury.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is set to ring the
changes following a lacklustre display in his side's
1-1 home draw with West Bromwich Albion, which
he put down to a gruelling festive period that also
saw them lose to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Winger Matt Jarvis and forward Carlton Cole are
likely to start and Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan
restored to the midfield.
Club captain Nolan is especially looking forward to
the clash, for a variety of reasons.
"Coming from Liverpool and growing up a Liverpool
fan, playing under the floodlights at Goodison Park
in the FA Cup will be a special occasion," said Nolan,
whose side are currently seventh in the Premier
League.
"I've played 21 times against Everton in my career,
but all of those games have been in the Premier
League.
"They are also one of the few teams I've never
scored against, so it would be lovely to break my
duck there on Tuesday.
"When you add in the fact that we were hugely
unlucky to lose there in the Premier League in
November (2-1), we have every incentive to go there
and give a good account of ourselves."
The FA Cup turned out to be a nightmare for West
Ham this time last year as they were struggling in
the league, prompting Allardyce to field an
extremely youthful team at Nottingham Forest, who
ended up being thrashed 5-0.
But Allardyce said: "I can assure you we all want to
get through to the next round and have a proper dig
at the competition.
"Our position in the league means there is far less
pressure on us than there was at this stage last
season, so we can go to Goodison Park, relax, and
hopefully play some of our best football."
must attempt to use their FA Cup third-round tie at
home to West Ham United on Tuesday to turn their
faltering season around.
Everton have lost four consecutive games in the
Premier League, which has seen them slide to 13th
place, four points above the relegation zone, and are
in desperate need of something to spark an upturn
in results.
However, the weight of history does not favour
Roberto Martinez's side, with West Ham having won
their last four FA Cup ties against Everton in a run
stretching back to 1963.
The last meeting between the teams in the
competition came in 1991, when the east London
club triumphed 2-1 in a sixth-round tie.
But Jagielka has urged his team-mates to forget that
record and their recent league form, and reignite
their campaign.
"We're very frustrated at the moment because
results are a lot poorer than we expect," the England
defender said.
"But it is up to us to turn the corner. It is going to be
a tough period before the next league game and
obviously with the FA Cup now we need to turn the
season around.
"I think confidence is quite low throughout the team
due to the results. We've got some really talented
players and we've been playing some OK football,
but unfortunately, the results haven't shown that.
"It's only up to us pick ourselves up, to start
performing better and hopefully start winning
games."
Martinez will check on the fitness of Kevin Mirallas
(ankle) after he was withdrawn at half-time in
Thursday's 2-0 loss at Hull City, while James
McCarthy could return after missing that game with
a hamstring injury.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is set to ring the
changes following a lacklustre display in his side's
1-1 home draw with West Bromwich Albion, which
he put down to a gruelling festive period that also
saw them lose to Chelsea and Arsenal.
Winger Matt Jarvis and forward Carlton Cole are
likely to start and Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan
restored to the midfield.
Club captain Nolan is especially looking forward to
the clash, for a variety of reasons.
"Coming from Liverpool and growing up a Liverpool
fan, playing under the floodlights at Goodison Park
in the FA Cup will be a special occasion," said Nolan,
whose side are currently seventh in the Premier
League.
"I've played 21 times against Everton in my career,
but all of those games have been in the Premier
League.
"They are also one of the few teams I've never
scored against, so it would be lovely to break my
duck there on Tuesday.
"When you add in the fact that we were hugely
unlucky to lose there in the Premier League in
November (2-1), we have every incentive to go there
and give a good account of ourselves."
The FA Cup turned out to be a nightmare for West
Ham this time last year as they were struggling in
the league, prompting Allardyce to field an
extremely youthful team at Nottingham Forest, who
ended up being thrashed 5-0.
But Allardyce said: "I can assure you we all want to
get through to the next round and have a proper dig
at the competition.
"Our position in the league means there is far less
pressure on us than there was at this stage last
season, so we can go to Goodison Park, relax, and
hopefully play some of our best football."
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