Everton's interim manager Duncan Ferguson said the Merseyside club suffered a case of stage fright in Saturday's 1-0 Premier League loss to Aston Villa but credited his players for the fight they put up at a tense Goodison Park.
Villa's Emiliano Buendia scored from a corner late in a first half during which Everton were found wanting in attack but the hosts nearly scored in the second half after substitutions allowed them to create more chances.