Phil Neville targets first league win for Everton
Everton captain Phil Neville hopes his team can get to their first win in the Premier League against Fulham this Saturday.
Everton finished eighth last year, narrowly missing out on a Europa League placing to local rivals Liverpool. This season, the team has yet to collect a win in the Premier League.
In five games, David Moyes' team has collected only two points, leaving them 19th in the table ahead of Saturday's fixture. On Monday, Everton was knocked out of the Carling Cup by League One-side Brentford, after a penalty shootout.
Neville, who joined Everton from Manchester United in 2005, insisted that his team will not crumble under the pressure to collect the first league win of the season.
"The expectations are what we always wanted, so we can’t get to the stage of getting it, and then be fearful of it," the former England international said. "We’re not fearful, but hard work will get us back."
Showed strong form during the summer
Everton's disappointing start to the season comes after a pre-season in which the club won six friendly matches in a row.
"We had a great pre-season, everyone fully fit and it was just what we wanted. Now we need to give ourselves a kick up the backside, and big players stand up."
Everton finished fifth in the league in 2009. With a squad that includes the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta, they should be positioned to do well this year.
At present, though, rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa look better poised to finish in the top seven.
"It’s time to show our mettle. We’ve got the character and grit in that dressing room. I’d stake my life on it."
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