AFTER winning four games in a row to ease the burden of a 10-point deduction, Everton are once again beginning to feel the effects of the penalty applied by the Premier League.

The team have been playing well and were unlucky not to take anything from a trip to Spurs before Christmas, but a defeat there, followed up by a loss to Manchester City on Wednesday night, sees them just a point above the relegation zone.

That they are not in that relegation zone is a testament to how well they have played this season, registering 19 points from their last 10 league games and generally looking like they can get something from any game.