Seamus Coleman feels Everton manager Ronald Koeman got his tactics spot on as the Merseyside club thrashed Manchester City 4-0 at Goodison Park in the Premier League.
The Ireland captain and fellow Everton full back Leighton Baines took on wing back roles as the Toffees boss set up with a back three, having correctly predicted the system Pep Guardiola intended to field his City team.
Coleman was enthused by the result which prevents City from re-entering the Top 4 and keeps Everton ticking along nicely in seventh.
"It was a great result. First and foremost, it was one of the best results in a while but performance second half I thought was very good. First half we stayed in the game, created a few chances and we weren't great in possession. But second half we were much better. So a very convincing win," he told Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy.
Ronald Koeman
"In the Premier League, there are times when you feel in control and then one moment of magic and then the other team are back in the game. But it did feel comfortable to be fair but you know that can change in a heartbeat. But I think we got the second goal at a great time just straight away and obviously the two young lads [Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman] with great goals."
Referencing Koeman's tactics, Coleman felt it allowed him and Baines to thrive.
"To be fair he got their team spot on and how they were going to play with two up front," he said.
"So he wanted the three centre halves and me and Leighton had a little bit of licence to get forward and he got it spot on."
Coleman added that Everton also looked to counteract City's preferred style of playing out from the back under Guardiola by pressing high and putting pressure on the opposition goalkeeper and defenders.
"We had a game plan to try and stop it and thankfully it worked," he said.
The 28 year old praised the impact of new midfield signing Morgan Schneiderlin and also credited ex-Everton defender David Unsworth for helping to develop young players like Tom Davies who made a positive impact against City and scored goal No 3.
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