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Everton first team coach Duncan Ferguson has issued a rallying cry ahead of their home game against West Ham next Saturday as he called upon Blues to show the unity within the club.

After four consecutive Premier League defeats before the current international break, manager Marco Silva described the Hammers' visit to Goodison Park as a “must-win fixture” with his side, who had been expected to push for a place in Europe now finding themselves in the relegation zone.

Ferguson, who has worked in the coaching staff under four Everton managers now having first been promoted by Roberto Martinez in March 2014, insists that despite the disappointing run of results, everyone is backing the Blues boss.

The iconic former Everton centre-forward, who was a fans' favourite at Goodison over two spells between 1994-98 and 2000-06, told the ECHO: “We've got to stick together. It's been a tough time with our start to the season.

“We've just got to make sure we can turn it around, I really believe that.

“I think we will prove that on Saturday.

“The spirit is still there – 100% definitely.

“Everybody's behind the manager and we know that the fans will always be behind the club.

“We just need to turn the positivity that we've got around the place into victories, that's what we're looking to do.”

Speaking ahead of the first ever Everton If You Know Your History 5K race, which he took part in himself, Ferguson, 47, was delighted with the turnout for an event that enabled fans to run past locations of historical significance in the story of the club while helping to generate cash for a mental health facility to be developed by Goodison Park.

He said: “It's unbelievable, there's about 500 runners. It's a great fund-raising event to get The People's Place up and running and we're looking to raise about a million pounds.

“This will go a long way towards getting that started.

“It's great so see some of my old colleagues. We'll never forget Gareth Farrelly will we? He basically saved us that day with that great goal.

“Stuey Barlow too and a legend like Big Joe – the last guy to win us a trophy.”