Hat-trick for Watson as Leeds are demolished by rampant Everton

Everton 4 Leeds United 0

The Leeds manager saw his team drop into the Premiership relegation zone and said:

"We were second best in every department. There was no passing, no tackling from anyone in my side, there was no desire to work, or play. Everton had all that.

"If you go back to Leicester where we did not compete and they battered us, teams have seen how to play against us.

They will be saying that Leeds have not got the stomach to win a battle. It is difficult as a manager to keep criticising, you try to be constructive, but there was nothing constructive there and I would not be honest if I said otherwise."

Leeds were beaten by a Steve Watson hat-trick and a Duncan Ferguson header and it could have been twice as bad.

Reid looked as low as he has ever done in his management of Leeds, and said: "We are in for a very hard season if we keep playing like this. I am very worried. If you have not got the desire and you do not want to compete, then you are going to be in big trouble.

"There was no work or determination in our play, with or without the ball. You have to have that.

"Teams will be watching this and believe that if you out battle Leeds, you will win. Okay, we lost to Birmingham, but that was a battle and everybody tried.

"But we did not try today. We did not turn up, we did not want to turn up. We looked tired.

"I have got no excuses and I cannot explain that performance. I feel sorry for the Leeds fans."

Reid added: "I cannot justify a performance like that to them. If they go out and have a right good go, and lose, then okay you have tried. Supporters will accept that.

"I do not want supporters to accept what went on out there, because I cannot accept it. It was lucky it was not more than four."

Reid intends to try and shake things up. He said: "There will be changes, but I cannot keep hammering people in training. I am doing that now and it is not very enjoyable.

"I do not know what to say. All I ask is for them to go out on the pitch and earn the right to play, it is not too much to ask for is it?"

Everton chief David Moyes saw his side dispel any early-season blues with an emphatic performance.

The Scot said: "I am very satisfied with that performance and the result. It was great entertainment and it was something which we really needed.

"We created terrific chances and we could have had a few even before we scored. It was probably the best creative performance since I have been at the club.

"We needed it. I said to them before the start that we had to start winning. Maybe the players have realised how anxious I have been getting in training.

"Goals give you confidence and that is what we did out there. Jamie McFadden had a terrific debut and Steve Watson was outstanding," he said.

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Unsworth, Watson (Rooney 76), Gravesen, Carsley, McFadden (Linderoth 86), Radzinski (Kilbane 76), Ferguson.

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Camara, Roque Junior, Matteo, Pennant (Bridges 45), Morris, Seth Johnson (Lennon 45), Sakho (Olembe 45), Smith, Viduka.

Referee: P Durkin (Dorset).