Seamus Coleman believes last season’s narrow escape from relegation can have a positive effect on Everton and has told his team-mates what they must do to keep fans behind them.
Everton stayed up by the skin of their teeth last season, with a 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace in their penultimate game of the campaign enough to secure their top-flight status. The Blues had trailed 2-0 at the break at Goodison Park.
However, less than a year on and the Blues are once again mired in another battle to avoid drop. Although Coleman’s goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Leeds United did move his side out of the drop zone.
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And the Republic of Ireland international feels that the experiences of 12 months ago offers a fresh perspective on the club’s current struggles this time around and has explained why the feeling is different.
He said: “Unfortunately, having been through it before, it does feel different this time. Maybe last year you’re carrying it so much on your shoulders and you’re thinking ‘Oh my God, this club can’t be where it is’.
“But this year you realise that we’ve been here before, we know what it takes, we know that we’ve got to stick together – that’s the most important – and the manager’s played a big part in that in the last couple of weeks.
“The manager (Dyche) has come in, he’s got experience, he’s tough, he’s confident in himself.”
Ahead of Saturday’s win over Leeds - and just as they’d done before the previous home game with Arsenal a fortnight ago - disgruntled Blues supporters took to the streets to air their grievances at the way their club is being run.
Starting outside the Royal Oak public house, the protesters made their way up Spellow Lane and along the length out Goodison Road in the shadow of the Main Stand. Further protests are expected to be held before the Blues’ remaining home games this season.
However, once inside Goodison, Blues supporters have been right behind their side and have twice helped them to wins over Arsenal and Leeds since Dyche was appointed as Frank Lampard’s successor last month.
“Our job as football players is to do our best for Everton Football Club and we see the passion and support that our fans give,” Coleman said when asked about the supporters.
“Don't get me wrong, they need to see something from us in the game to get behind. There's been times where we've not been at it and the atmosphere's not been as good because they need to see something they can relate to.
“When they see something they can relate to, lads running round and putting in the hard yards as the manager calls it, they get right behind it.
“Listen, I've been here 14 years and they talk about the players who work hard, train hard, that's what they want.”
One moment in the Everton tunnel after the game summed up the type of figure Coleman is at the club. As he spoke to the media, the Irishman received a tap on the shoulder from Nathan Patterson as Ben Godfrey also walked past.
Paterson, who is working his way back from an ankle injury and featured for the club’s under-21s on Friday night, and Godfrey could both become Everton’s first choice right-back in the not so distant future.
“Those boys are the future and I'm here to support them every single day in training,” Coleman said when asked about the pair.
“What I want is Everton Football club to be successful and I've seen enough quality in the two boys to know that they can come in at any given time and Patto [Nathan Patterson] was excellent for the first seven games.
“I'm a fighter, I want to play, they want to play and we'll push each other in the right way. When they do play, and that time will come, I'll be there to support them every single step of the way.”
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