Sean Dyche admits Everton are feeling the pressure of their relegation battle.
Monday’s trip to Leicester City sees the Blues mired in the Premier League’s bottom three and again facing the prospect of a first demotion since 1951.
Results in and around Dyche’s side went their way with fellow strugglers Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham all suffering defeats.
But Everton’s return of just one win from their last 10 games is underscored by capitulations, the most recent coming in a 4-1 drubbing against Newcastle.
Asked to explain the alarming downturn, Dyche said: “Nerves, tension, focus, build-up to games, injuries, suspensions, different players coming in and out the side; all those things go into it.
“You are looking to work through those periods when the challenges come, like we did against Chelsea and Tottenham when we got good points.
“Then the second half against Fulham and the second half against Newcastle we clearly haven’t affected that. Palace was a bit of a flat one from both teams, I thought.
“The two that stick in my craw are the second half against Fulham and the second half against Newcastle.”