Roberto Martínez says Everton have reached a pivotal moment in season

• Everton’s performance at Newcastle crucial to their fortunes

• ‘This is the challenge now – to come through this period stronger’

• Match report: Everton 0 Stoke City 1

Roberto Martínez has said Everton’s visit to Newcastle United represents a pivotal moment for the team after suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season.

Having opened the season with aspirations of Champions League qualification Everton find themselves 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Southampton and only six above third-from-bottom Crystal Palace following an alarming run of form. Martinez’s side have won only one of their last six league games after Stoke City’s victory at Goodison Park on Boxing Day, with the Everton manager facing growing criticism for several ineffective displays.

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source Sport | The Guardian http://feeds.theguardian.com/c/34708/f/666716/s/41d03332/sc/12/l/0L0Stheguardian0N0Cfootball0C20A140Cdec0C270Croberto0Emartinez0Eeverton0Epivotal0Emoment0Enewcastle/story01.htm