Weir: We need fans help

David Weir is urging Everton supporters to pack Goodison Park tonight and roar the team to an unlikely UEFA Cup triumph.

There are fears that many fans will stay away following the first-leg debacle in Romania and that the ground will be half empty.

A second-half collapse saw Everton go down 5-1 to Dinamo Bucharest and in many pundits’ eyes exit the competition.

Club captain Weir believes a packed house could make a big difference to Everton’s chances of going through to the group stage.

“That would be a great starting point for us if the ground was full,” said the Scotland defender.

“Everyone knows what that’s like and the atmosphere generated, how it can spur the players on.

“In an ideal situation that would be the case.

“But you have to give the fans credit. They are being asked for money time after time.

“Maybe some are thinking there is not a great chance of us winning the tie and will vote on their feet.

“It is up to us to go out and put on a performance regardless of the size of the crowd and do our best.”

Weir insists that he will not be found wanting when it comes to commitment to the cause.

He said: “You cannot suffer hangovers in football. The games come around quickly.

“You cannot dwell about what’s happened in the past but only look to next game.

“It is about responding to your disappointments in a positive manner. That’s what you have to do.

“You can hide in the corner or you can come out and start fighting to try to put yourself back on track.

“It is about playing every game as if it is your last and giving top-level effort, which we have done without getting the results.

“That is definitely the way forward for us. It is getting together as a group, getting a bit of collective responsibility so we can start winning games again.”

After going out of the Champions League, Everton are on the point of going out of Europe before the end of September.

Weir is anxious to put on a show against Dinamo Bucharest and get some kind of victory after eight defeats in nine games.

“They will feel the hard work is done,” he said. “It is up to us to come out and change that. We have got to put on a big show and play really well.

“If we do get an early goal that will lift us and the crowd. It is not an impossible task as football can change very quickly.

“We want to play in as many games as we can and in as many competitions as we can.”

“You don’t want be sitting at home watching European games, you want to be competing in them.”