Sam Allardyce to implement ‘change of mentality’ as Everton aim to end barren run against Stoke

Everton, who initially enjoyed improved results following the appointment of Allardyce, have looked bereft of ideas, energy and goalscoring threat in recent weeks

Sam Allardyce says his Everton squad needs improved focus (Getty)

Sam Allardyce has said he wants to implement “a change of mentality” as his Everton side look to halt their dreadful run of form, with the Toffees currently on a six-match losing streak across all competitions.

Everton, who initially enjoyed improved results following the appointment of Allardyce, have looked bereft of ideas, energy and goalscoring threat in recent weeks, recording just three Premier League wins in their last 12 matches.

For Allardyce, however, he believes Everton’s woes are not primarily tactical or physical, but psychological, and is utilising their sports psychologist to assist the players in attempting to return to form.

“We tried a number of things. I think a change of systems, a change of personnel but I think a change of mentality is the big one,” said Allardyce, ahead of their Premier League game at Stoke this weekend.

“They are getting some help with that. We have used our in-house sports psychologist who has been here for a while and slowly he has integrated himself in some of the sessions with some of the players.

“The main thing is the focus on being mindful and visualising the performance you give at the top level, and thinking about that to put yourself in a positive frame of mind before you run out onto the field on a Saturday.”

Allardyce also believes that Everton’s visit to the Potteries will be far from simplistic, and despite Stoke having won only one of their last 12 matches, the Everton boss has seen a marked improvement since Paul Lambert took over from Mark Hughes.

“He has made them very difficult to beat now, that is the basis of winning matches – being hard to break down,” he added. “For us we looked at the fact that we had slipped up by achieving not as many clean sheets as we should have done and he is working on those same lines.”