Everton manager Ronald Koeman was set for an uncomfortable international break after Jeff Hendrick's goal gave visitors Burnley a 1-0 win in the Premier League at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Defeat left the big-spending Toffees, who have won just twice in seven league matches so far this season, a mere two points above the relegation zone.
The Dutch great's side came into this match on the back of a disappointing 2-2 Europa League draw at home to Cypriot club Apollon Limassol on Thursday.
That result halted something of a mini-revival after Everton had won back-to-back matches against Sunderland in the League Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League after losing four in a row in a six-game winless streak.
Prior to Sunday's match, Koeman said:
"It's not time to find any more excuses, because that's not counting for you. With a win, everyone will be happy and maybe 'Everton are back', that will be the newspaper on Monday.
"If we don't win, the newspaper will be totally different. But that's football and I accept that way of thinking."
But after the match, Koeman told Sky Sports:
"I'm not unhappy what I saw from the team, they showed today how we had to play.
"If you play against a team who are defending so strong you need to be at your best. We didn't have that creativity."
Everton striker Wayne Rooney thought he should have had a penalty late on when his flick-on from Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross bounced on to Matthew Lowton's arm and Koeman said:
"You know, sometimes you get the help of a referee.
"I don't say it was a penalty because it wasn't his intention to touch the ball -- but on other occasions I've seen a penalty given.
"Of course we can play better on the ball, this situation is really disappointing. But we'll continue because what I saw today is how to come out of this difficult situation."
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| Burnley's midfielder Jeff Hendrick (L) celebrates after scoring against Everton at Goodison Park in Liverpool on October 1, 2017 (AFP) |
The Dutch great's side came into this match on the back of a disappointing 2-2 Europa League draw at home to Cypriot club Apollon Limassol on Thursday.
That result halted something of a mini-revival after Everton had won back-to-back matches against Sunderland in the League Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League after losing four in a row in a six-game winless streak.
Prior to Sunday's match, Koeman said:
"It's not time to find any more excuses, because that's not counting for you. With a win, everyone will be happy and maybe 'Everton are back', that will be the newspaper on Monday.
"If we don't win, the newspaper will be totally different. But that's football and I accept that way of thinking."
But after the match, Koeman told Sky Sports:
"I'm not unhappy what I saw from the team, they showed today how we had to play.
"If you play against a team who are defending so strong you need to be at your best. We didn't have that creativity."
Everton striker Wayne Rooney thought he should have had a penalty late on when his flick-on from Gylfi Sigurdsson's cross bounced on to Matthew Lowton's arm and Koeman said:
"You know, sometimes you get the help of a referee.
"I don't say it was a penalty because it wasn't his intention to touch the ball -- but on other occasions I've seen a penalty given.
"Of course we can play better on the ball, this situation is really disappointing. But we'll continue because what I saw today is how to come out of this difficult situation."
Read More: Other sports articles
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