The constant struggle against teams battling in the depths of the Premier League has become a recurring stumbling block for Everton in recent seasons. It is something that the Blues have, retrospectively, come to rue after narrowly missing out on European competition ever since crashing out of the Europa League at the hands of Sporting Lisbon in 2010.

Despite the unquestionable positive vibe and refreshing approach new boss Roberto Martinez has brought to Goodison Park this season, one of the very few criticisms of the Catalan could perhaps be his inability to address this shortcoming. That is not to say Everton should have the divine right to roll teams over who park the proverbial bus. And who could forget it? Not a week goes by without at least one manager offering the old cliché of 'there are no easy games in the Premier League'. However, if you consider the gulf in the quality of teams, on paper at least, Roberto Martinez's side should fare better against the teams in a relegation scrap compared to the billionaires fighting in the upper echelons of the league. But where it matters - on the field - this has not proved to be the case.

The Toffees have played a total nine games against the bottom seven sides in the Premier League so far this season. But, the Blues have managed to amass just 12 points from a possible 27, and a win percentage of 33.3%. In addition to that rather underwhelming return, Martinez's side were also dispatched by bottom of the league Fulham at the second hurdle of the Capital One Cup. In contrast, the form in the top 8 'mini-league' has been impressive. In spite of last week's crushing 4-0 defeat at Anfield, Everton have still registered 12 points from a possible 24, with a win percentage of 37.5%.

To Martinez's credit, there have been increasingly promising signs this season - a campaign which was always going to be a transitional period to some extent. No better example can be found than the eye-catching second-half display in last weekend's 2-1 win over Aston Villa. It is hard to imagine Everton turning the same game on its head last season.

The grit Everton demonstrated was perhaps not the key element in the Blues' turnaround. After all, the players' willingness to 'run through walls' for their former manager was well documented throughout David Moyes' tenure. Instead, it was the guts and guile of one endearing Catalan that spared Everton's blushes. As the decision to introduce Steven Pienaar and Steven Naismith proved to be an inspired one, with the pair changing the dynamics of the game and ultimately combining to notch the equaliser. Courageous substitutions and tactical changes at crucial times are becoming something of a trademark for Martinez, who has saved the Blues from the touchline on countless occasions already in his first season as Blues boss.

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