Everton players were left frustrated and disappointed by their latest points deduction but will look to bounce back as they did after the first penalty in December, according to Joe Thomas.

The Liverpool Echo journalist shared that the players were informed of the deduction during a team meeting on Monday, where discussion quickly turned to how they could bounce back.

When the Toffees were handed a ten-point penalty in December, they were galvanised to a confident winning run and will be looking to replicate that this time.

Thomas was speaking live on BBC Football Focus [13 April, 12:33] as he explained: “There’s a sense of frustration and a sense of disappointment.

“The players were told about the deduction at a team meeting on Monday and from my understanding, the conversation quickly turned to how they can recapture that sense that had them respond so emphatically to the first deduction in December.”

Everton dressing room reacts to latest Premier League points deduction

The latest two-point deduction at Goodison Park means they have now been handed a total of eight points off, which would take it tole on any team. For Everton, it’s about how quickly they bounce back.

Jordan Pickford had recently explained that the previous deduction and appeal process had started to weigh on the minds of the players despite their strong run of form in the wake of the news, something which could happen again here.

The goalkeeper, meanwhile, insisted that he just keeps his head down and remains focused on the next game, knowing that the only thing the players can do in this situation is earn as many points as possible to keep the survival push alive.This is the attitude that will hopefully rub off on the rest of the squad, knowing that the only thing in their hands is to keep winning games regardless of the constant noise off of the pitch, although that could prove a difficult task.

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