Boss Sam Allardyce has suggested that his players are failing to grasp "the basic principles" that he is attempting to put across at the Merseyside outfit.

On Saturday afternoon, Everton let slip a one-goal lead as Burnley recorded a 2-1 win at Turf Moor, and supporters voiced their frustration after watching their side under-perform at the home of the Clarets.

Allardyce has now won just six of his 17 matches in charge of the Toffees, but the England boss has indicated that his players are to blame for not adjusting to his tactics.

The 63-year-old is quoted by the Liverpool Echo as saying: "In my time of taking over clubs who are struggling, I've never had such a big start as this one - seven undefeated. And then you try and get into the lads and try and make them consistent because you get that first impact when they all want to show a new manager what they can do.

"My belief is you've got to instil the basic principles of how to win a game of football into the players so they continue doing well when the new manager gets familiar, those principles come into play. But that is not happening as good as I expect it at the moment."

Everton now sit in 11th place in the Premier League standings, just seven points above the relegation zone.