While the fine-tuning of this Everton squad is a continuous process needing time and several transfer windows, the attitude and application of the players appears to have changed for the better since a dismal 3-2 defeat at Watford in December.
Sandwiching an inert team display between two Romelu Lukaku goals, set piece problems and defensive frailties handed Walter Mazzarri's team an easy three points and left the Blues on a run of one win in 10 matches. FA Cup defeat to Leicester City was the latest reminder of a team in transition that is still prone to lapses, but there has been a general uplift of late as players grasp the work ethic which manager Ronald Koeman expects.