James Tarkowski was speaking following Everton’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa
James Tarkowski believes a lack of quality cost his side against Aston Villa as he also opened up about David Moyes’ early impact as Everton manager. The Blues kicked-off life under the Scot with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.
Not for the first time this season, Everton were architects of their own downfall as Jarrad Branthwaite was punished at one end, while at the other, the Blues’ problems in front of goal were once again laid bare for all to see.
Branthwaite carelessly gave away possession on the halfway line five minutes into the second half, and Morgan Rogers punished him with a through ball beyond Tarkowski that was collected by Ollie Watkins, who finished confidently past Jordan Pickford, who had been in two minds whether to come or stay.
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While at the other end, Dominic Calvert-Lewin wasted two good opportunities in the first half before missing a gilt-edged chance in stoppage time to rescue his side a point when he fired over from just six-yards out.
“The important thing right now is winning matches, so that’s what we need to do,” Tarkowski said. “The performance was good.
“We had pretty good control of the game at times, second half, against a side that usually controls the match. So in that aspect, we can be pleased. We created a couple of decent chances but didn’t put them away.
“The biggest difference was they had a bit more quality than us, and that’s something that has got to improve. Maybe confidence is just a bit low. We’ve not been winning recently, so maybe that’s natural.”
The Blues have only scored 15 times in 20 games so far this season, with only bottom side Southampton faring worse with 12. To add to that, Calvert-Lewin has now gone 16 games without a goal, a run stretching back to September.
Addressing his side’s problems in front of goal, Tarkowski said: “I’ve seen it before and it happens sometimes. A scruffy one goes in, and then someone sets off on a run of games and scores some goals.
“We need to keep that belief, and it’s not just the forward players who need to score; we all do. There were a couple of opportunities tonight, but probably just not enough quality.
“That’s what I’ve said in there. I’d rather be creating and missing than not creating at all. There were a couple of good opportunities tonight. On another day they go in, but they have to start going in soon as we have to start winning.”
Moyes met the Everton squad for the first time on Monday, having signed a two-and-a-half-year contract to succeed Sean Dyche on Saturday. And Tarkowski has opened up about what life has been like under the 61-year-old.
“It’s just been a lot of information in a couple of days,” he revealed. “It wasn’t ideal to have a midweek game straight away, but that’s football.
“The manager has done as much as he can with us. We just have to get on the training pitch as much as possible to keep learning and understanding what he wants from us.
“Every manager has got their own way of working. I don’t think he was planning on coming in and changing everything initially because the games are coming thick and fast at the minute.
“So he’s just trying to give us a little bit of guidance here and there without overloading us with too much information. Through time, I’m sure we’ll morph into what he wants us to be.”
Asked directly about the main differences, the centre-back replied: “We’ve tried to control the game a little bit more tonight. You can see with the possession, we tried to be a bit calmer moving it around and not be so direct.
“But he still wants us to be progressive and get the ball forward, just not initially get it forward too early if we can have that control round the back.”
