Everton manager Roberto Martinez has publicly praised 20-year-old centre-back John Stones, saying that his performance during their 3-0 victory over Manchester United yesterday afternoon was his best for the club yet, as he scored his first senior goal for the Toffees as well as keeping a clean sheet with a solid defensive display.
Stones marked his 50th appearance for Everton with the second goal in their well-rounded victory at Goodison Park, with a glancing header from Leighton Baines' corner-kick in the first-half, beyond David de Gea and Ashley Young, who made an unsuccessful attempt to head off the line. Martinez told the media the following: "John deserves his moment for scoring his first goal for Everton, which is an incredible memory for us all. But if I'm honest with you, I think his defensive display was the best since he's been in the first-team. Phil Jagielka is the perfect man to learn from but, at the age of 20, to have that composure and style on the ball - I thought the way he defended Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao and Marouane Fellaini in the first-half showed he has an incredible maturity."
Stones meanwhile, stated: "It's the big games that you always look forward too and the big players bring the best out of you - I definitely enjoyed myself [during the game]." Following that win, Everton are now unbeaten in their last six league matches, with five wins and a draw, 16 points out of a possible 18.