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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Joe Thomas

'I have got to do better' - Amadou Onana gives honest interview after Everton defeat

Amadou Onana gave an honest assessment of Everton's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and took responsibility for missing a chance that could have changed the game.

The Belgium international blasted over Hugo Lloris' goal after capitalising on indecision in the Spurs defence. It followed Demarai Gray missing the target in a similar situation as the Blues repelled the hosts in a resilient first half display.

Spurs went on to win the game after Harry Kane provided the breakthrough from the spot. Reflecting on the outcome, Onana said: "I think we had two big chances in the first half. I think if we score them it could be another game."

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Both Gray and Onana's opportunities came during a first half in which Spurs enjoyed spells of domination and caused problems down Everton's right. But the visitors prevented clear cut opportunities, Jordan Pickford dealing with the best chance by smothering a Kane shot after the striker had taken the ball past Vitalii Mykolenko and Idrissa Gueye.

But for all the positive signs of the first half, Everton fell behind on the hour when Kane converted a penalty after Pickford was adjudged to have brought him down. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg sealed the three points for Spurs with a late, deflected shot as Everton chased an equaliser.

Speaking after the game, Onana said: "I think I have got to do better, I have got to at least bring it on target. But if you see the video when I wanted to shoot the ball just jumps a bit so I put it over but I have got to definitely do better on that... They [Spurs] did very well, they did not need many chances to score. I think that penalty broke us mentally down but we haven't got time to feel sorry for ourselves we have just got to bounce back and try and bring a positive result from Newcastle."

Onana was positive about the tactics that saw Everton keep their Champions League opponents at bay and create the two best chances of the first half. Of the gameplan, he said: "It worked, I think we had a decent first half. We did very well, stayed very compact, defended all together. If you score those two big chances, it maybe would have been another game."

The 21-year-old said it was now important Everton do not lose confidence following back-to-back defeats against Manchester United and Spurs, adding: "I think we lost against two very big opponents in the Prem. The game today went well, the gameplan worked obviously so we can definitely build on that."

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