Ancelotti issues rallying cry as he reiterates Everton ‘target’ is in sight Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said that his side would have deserved a draw against West Ham, if not for their visitors’ “lucky” late goal. Hammers midfielder Tomas Soucek poked home from close range to snatch three points from a largely dull clash at Goodison Park. Indeed, it took 45 minutes for Toffees winger Bernard to register the game’s first shot on target. But a win for the hosts would have moved them into second in the Premier League table. Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Italian manager Ancelotti admitted that his side lacked the final quality to win. “It was not a good game. The game was in the balance, it could have been a draw,” he said. “We didn’t have a lot of opportunities, they didn’t have a lot of opportunities. “Unfortunately they got the lucky deflection, we lost the game. We could play with more intensity and quality up front but we have to accept this. “I think a point would have been deserved,” Ancelotti added. “In football you can be unlucky – it was not our best performance, we were a little bit slow. West Ham did a fantastic performance.” The defeat left Everton in fourth ahead of the weekend’s other matches. But Ancelotti insisted that his club’s target of qualifying for the Champions League remains in sight. Ancelotti issues rallying cry “We have to accept the result. It will be important to keep our belief high,” the 61-year-old said. “We are more comfortable defending and using the counter attack. “When we have the ball we have more difficulties and we have adjust this. “We are in the position we would like to be and hopefully we can be there at the end of the season. That is our target.” Everton take a break from league action in their next game, however. They play Rotherham in the FA Cup next Saturday. READ MORE: Moyes pinpoints ‘mentality’ shift at West Ham after late Everton winner The post Ancelotti issues rallying cry as he reiterates Everton ‘target’ is in sight appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti said that his side would have deserved a draw against West Ham, if not for their visitors’ “lucky” late goal.

Hammers midfielder Tomas Soucek poked home from close range to snatch three points from a largely dull clash at Goodison Park.

Indeed, it took 45 minutes for Toffees winger Bernard to register the game’s first shot on target.

But a win for the hosts would have moved them into second in the Premier League table.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Italian manager Ancelotti admitted that his side lacked the final quality to win.

“It was not a good game. The game was in the balance, it could have been a draw,” he said. “We didn’t have a lot of opportunities, they didn’t have a lot of opportunities.

“Unfortunately they got the lucky deflection, we lost the game. We could play with more intensity and quality up front but we have to accept this.

“I think a point would have been deserved,” Ancelotti added.

“In football you can be unlucky – it was not our best performance, we were a little bit slow. West Ham did a fantastic performance.”

The defeat left Everton in fourth ahead of the weekend’s other matches. But Ancelotti insisted that his club’s target of qualifying for the Champions League remains in sight.

Ancelotti issues rallying cry

“We have to accept the result. It will be important to keep our belief high,” the 61-year-old said. “We are more comfortable defending and using the counter attack.

“When we have the ball we have more difficulties and we have adjust this.

“We are in the position we would like to be and hopefully we can be there at the end of the season. That is our target.”

Everton take a break from league action in their next game, however. They play Rotherham in the FA Cup next Saturday.

READ MORE: Moyes pinpoints ‘mentality’ shift at West Ham after late Everton winner

The post Ancelotti issues rallying cry as he reiterates Everton ‘target’ is in sight appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Jonny Whitfield