Good evening.

Welcome to Goodison for our game against Newcastle United.

We have two objectives for tonight’s match. Firstly, to achieve our third straight home win – and fifth consecutive match unbeaten here. Those numbers would strengthen the feeling of Goodison being one of the toughest Premier League stadiums for opponents to visit.

Additionally, there are elements of our performance we must improve. We are doing well for parts of games and that was the case at West Ham on Saturday. After half-time we showed intensity and with the ball tried to pass forwards.

We were braver.

I want us to do the right things for 90 minutes. There is no reason to be hesitant. We can play with energy and conviction for the entire match. In possession, we can be faster and more precise.

Our players are confident playing their football at Goodison. My impression when I watched us draw with Arsenal on the day I joined last month was of this ground being united behind its team. I sat in the stand and, because of this connection, immediately felt at home.

On the touchline, this feeling has grown stronger. I have managed only two matches from the home dugout but in both games you have had a considerable role in our victories.

Against Burnley, a strong and compact opponent, you stayed calm while we tried to find a way to score. That allowed the players to relax, to not rush their work, and eventually Dominic produced the crucial goal.

Last time at Goodison, Richarlison showed his skills and quality to give us the lead over Brighton. But we faced a lot of pressure in the final 15 minutes and had to keep our focus to secure the win.

I could feel a change in the momentum of the game, so we made some substitutions to protect our advantage and you helped the players through a really tough period.

In the Premier League, you expect to suffer at times. It is so important for the mentality of the team to survive difficult phases in games, these moments increase belief in a squad.

We took six points from two home games which with other conditions might have brought us only two points. It is true that we have not played so well in the matches over the past month. The spirit and willingness of our players has been responsible for us being an effective team.

I mentioned the improvements I want to see straight away. But over time, we want to create a team that controls games and wins by playing an attacking and entertaining style.

It is not so easy to arrive at this stage and we have to be patient. But everything we do is with that overall target in our minds.

We welcome Steve Bruce, the staff, players and fans of Newcastle.

As a manager, you have to be yourself, trust your own methods. Steve has done that and produced some excellent results – Newcastle have won at Tottenham and Sheffield United this season and, away against Wolves 10 days ago, had a good draw.

We played Newcastle only three-and-a-half weeks ago and are clear that we face a very disciplined and organised opponent.

They won in the last minute against Chelsea on Saturday. That brings one of the best emotions in football and you go to your next match still on a high.

This is another motivation for our work to be urgent and competitive from the start.

We want to be the team controlling the match, not allowing Newcastle to settle and using our football to help create a fantastic atmosphere in this stadium.

I have been the opposition manager for a midweek game at Goodison and the passion was incredible. We felt so far from home.

The staff here tell me it remains a very special place to play football under the floodlights on a weeknight.

We will try our maximum to give you the result to match your magnificent support.

Enjoy the game,

Carlo.