VICTOR ANICHEBE insists Everton can realise their attacking potential easier on the road as opposition teams are less likely to sit back and stifle them.
David Moyes’ men are undefeated in their last five away games and are hoping to record a fourth successive win for the first time in 28 years with victory at Southampton on Monday.
That would help boost their top four aspirations after last Saturday’s frustrating goal-less draw with a Swansea side which was set on frustrating the Toffees.
Anichebe believes the onus on home sides to open up however means better opportunities for Everton’s attacking players.
The 24-year-old Nigerian international striker, who has scored in each of the Blues’ last three away victories, said: “If you look at the game at St James’ Park, away from home we’ll get opportunities to attack, we’ll be passing it, getting it on the counter attack and we will go and create chances.
“At home it’s a bit different. At home teams are coming to us, showing us a lot of respect now.
“They’ve obviously shown us respect in the past but now they’re coming in and thinking, ‘ah, we’ve got Everton’.
“And this sitting and defending, it’s quite difficult sometimes to break teams down.
“I think Chelsea are finding the same at the moment.
“They came away (from Goodison Park) with a great result but then they find it difficult at home because teams are coming not really attacking so much and playing more of a game plan.
“But hopefully we can get it all together, keep doing well like we are and hopefully we can go to Southampton and get a good result.”
Moyes is again expected to be without right-back Tony Hibbert and midfielder Darron Gibson, with the duo suffering from calf and thigh problems respectively.
A persistent hamstring problem means the game will come too soon for recovering Belgian international forward Kevin Mirallas but full-back Seamus Coleman has returned to the fray in recent weeks following his own injury lay-off.
Anichebe senses his absent team-mates are edging ever closer to first-team returns and understands that could be crucial in the club’s search for European qualification.
“We’re doing really well at the moment and it’s a big positive that we’re getting some of our injured players back,” he said.
“When Kevin comes back, when Gibbo comes back, Hibbo’s still out – we’ve got a few big players out.
“Hopefully if we can get them back it’ll add another boost for the squad.”
