Jordan Pickford hands Everton wake-up call after 'Rolls-Royce' star returns at West Ham

Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford rescued his team against West Ham but admitted they weren’t good enough in the early weeks of the season.

Pickford produced two late stops to deny West Ham substitute Danny Ings in a goalless draw at the London Stadium, the second a flying save from a deflected effort, to ensure Sean Dyche’s Toffees have lost just one of their last seven in the league after losing each of their first four.

“The first four games were not good enough for the badge, for the standards we set ourselves as players,” Pickford said. “So the last seven, apart from last week [against Southampton], we established what a proper Everton side we are and where we want to go as a team, where we want to push forward as a club.”

The keeper felt those four matches - defeats to Brighton, Tottenham, Bournemouth and Aston Villa - felt like they were “a lifetime ago”. “The Bournemouth one was a bit of a strange one, the Brighton one, the first four were all strange games,” he added.

“If you look back and reflect on them, we weren't what we are as a team, as a unit, and the last seven showed we're more of a unit and that's what we are and what we'll push to be,” he said.

Pickford is one of Everton’s longest-serving players, and appeared to recognise what the fans want from the team, even during sticky spells. “This is my eighth season at Everton. All they ask for is dedication and hard work, win or lose,” he said.

“They ask you to put the shirt on with pride and give 100 percent. Pride, passion and give 100 percent for the badge. So if you give that they will be happy with you. I think that is why I get on with the fans so well, because they know I wear the shirt with pride and how much I give for it”

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Sean Dyche's Everton were helped by Jarrad Branthwaite making just his second start of an injury-hit season, stepping in for Michael Keane in East London, and Pickford had praise for both men.

“Jarrad, Keano, whoever it is, you've got to work hard during the week,” he added. “That's the platform. You work hard Monday to Friday to give yourself the best opportunity to start on the Saturday and take the chance, and Jarrad was a Rolls-Royce last year.”

Everton were on top in the first half at the London Stadium, but couldn’t take full advantage as West Ham came back into the game in the second period. Jesper Lindstrom might have won it for the visitors were it not for a firm hand from Hammers keeper Lukasz Fabianski, but Pickford was the busiest of the keepers late on after being given a let-off when Crysencio Summerville raced through and fired against the post.

The England keeper got down low to his right to keep out a low Ings effort, and went one better when he flung himself into the air to prevent the ex-Liverpool striker breaking Everton hearts

“That's the game of football and as a goalkeeper or a defender that's what you've got to be switched on for, those counter attacks or maybe those little slight errors that we make and they get chances from it,” said Pickford, who had to be focused at the end despite a quiet first half. “We have to stay in the moment.”

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