The Goodison Park faithful made the Merseyside Derby as intimidating as they could to thwart Liverpool’s progress towards a maiden Premier League crown, and the travelling Everton fanbase will have to deliver what they can at Newcastle.
That is going by comments Marco Silva has made to Sky Sports in the build-up to our trip to St James’ Park, where the boss has claimed the squad could feel the raucous atmosphere before they even stepped out of the dressing room on Sunday.
Having the grandstands buzzing certainly helped the players rise to the occasion of the Merseyside Derby, but doing so on home turf when you are supported by your own crowd is one thing, doing it on the road is another.
Against the Magpies on Saturday, the traveling supporters will have a far more challenging time imposing themselves in the vast cauldron of which St James’ Park is, and Silva is well aware that the players not giving those in the North East something to cheer about could lead to a decline in performance.
“The atmosphere started being fantastic from the moment we were in the dressing room [on Sunday],” Silva claims. “We started feeling it in that moment, and of course in the tunnel and then coming in. I felt it would be different and it was.
“I think our fans were fantastic, it was amazing the atmosphere in our stadium – it was everything people said about the Goodison Park atmosphere.
“I knew about the siren, and if the fans like it, then, of course, why not keep it? They want us to give them good feelings and it is our obligation as a team to show the ambition and desire to be Everton.
“That connection they showed with the team, even during some not very good moments, they were always there for our team. With their support, things will be really difficult for our opponents.”
Given our current situation in the Premier League, another decline in form could spell seriously bad news for the players and the manager, as we are now relying on outside factors to even contemplate the slimmest taste of success by securing the final Europa League qualifying spot.