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Leighton Baines admits team spirit is suffering at Everton during poor run

Everton's Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas ahead of the penalty being taken
Image: Kevin Mirallas takes the ball ahead of Leighton Baines before missing the penalty against West Brom

Leighton Baines hopes Everton's forthcoming warm-weather training break will help engender a stronger team spirit at the club.

Monday evening's disppointing goalless draw with West Brom was notable for a controversial incident in the first-half, when Kevin Mirallas stepped up to take a penalty ahead of Baines - Everton's usual spot-kick taker - and hit the post.

Steven Naismith and Romelu Lukaku tried to persuade the Belgium international he was making a mistake and after his failure from 12 yards, Lukaku could be seen publicly questioning his international team-mate.

With no FA Cup action this weekend for the squad, manager Roberto Martinez is taking his side overseas for an intensive few days training.

"It is like a mini pre-season in a way," said Baines. "We have been spending a lot of time together anyway but to go away is a nice change of scenery.

"Hopefully it gets a bit more spirit among the lads and keeps everyone together because when you are not winning games and there is a lot of criticism it is easy to look after yourself.

"We have to stay together and look after each other and hopefully this trip will be beneficial in all those ways."

Everton have now won just once in their last 10 games and sit only four points above the relegation zone.

"It is a chance to go away, take a step back and look at where we are going wrong because we are going wrong at the moment and it gives us more time together to put things right," Baines told the club website.

"The intention is to have an opportunity to put further work in and cover some more points that we need to address so hopefully it will be beneficial."

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