Demarai Gray has described Everton’s draw with Manchester City on Saturday as a “massive boost” of their bid to arrest a deficient run of effects and pull clear of relegation hassle.
Gray’s impressive Sixty fourth-minute equalizer secured some degree for Frank Lampard’s facet on the Etihad Stadium – it used to be best their 2d level from the final imaginable 15 and adopted the dangerous 2–1 defeat through Wolves at Goodison Park on Boxing Day.
“It will be a massive boost for the squad on the back of their last performance,” stated Gray. “Manchester City are one of the best in the world so credit to us, we showed our quality and thanks to the fans, obviously, supporting us all the way through but as a team we take that performance into the next game. On the back of our last performances, football-wise it was a massive improvement.
“Obviously when you come to the Etihad you have to change your gameplan a little bit but we stuck to it well. We got our reward with the goal and after that we dug deep, so there are a lot of positives to take. I don’t think it’s just when we play City, it’s part of our character and the club’s DNA, fighting and digging deep for results. We left everything out there.
Everton next host Brighton on Tuesday and Gray is insistent that the players remain behind Lampard and are determined to endure a second successive season spent fighting the drop. “We have gone through a lot of tough moments,” said the 26-year-old. “Last season we showed our character [beating relegation on the last day] and don’t want to be in that situation again this year.
“It’s been a bit up and down but we have shown a real quality with our performances this season, it’s just about keeping our standards high and performing to that sort of level as much as we can and if we do that we will get more good results.”
Dominic Calvert-Lewin inspired in opposition to City in his first get started since overdue October after long-term damage issues. “He is a massive part of our gameplan,” stated Gray of the centre-forward. “It used to be a type of video games the place you’ll’t truly do a lot attacking-wise, he needed to installed a shift and paintings for our moments however it’s worthwhile to have him in the market and I’m satisfied for him to get a couple of mins.
“He has had a difficult time. It’s unlucky as a result of he has finished the whole lot proper, he takes care of himself. He has had a bit of of dangerous fortune so I’m satisfied to have him again.