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Pickford's incredible fingertip saves not only rescued Everton but silenced the angry noise as England 'No.1 claims: I thrive on the pressure

- JEREMY CROSS

JORDAN PICKFORD reckons his critics are bringing out the best in him.

The England and Everton keeper has come in for some flak following his side's woeful start to the Premier League season.

But he provided the best possible answer to his detractors with a stunning double stop at the death to quite literally save Everton from slumping to their fourth straight defeat.

And the 29-year-old provided an equally impressive response off the pitch as well, when asked how he deals with the pressure and scrutiny.

Pickford said: "I just crack on with my job and get on with it. I thrive off the pressure - and as long as I'm putting my performances in and giving my all for the badge, for the fans, for the club, that's all the fans want, and what the club wants.

"I'll just keep trying hard to be at my best."

Which Pickford was, during a frantic but entertaining stalemate that saw Sean Dyche's men go ahead, fall behind, draw level, then flirt with disaster in stoppage time.

Abdoulaye Doucoure, who scored the goal that kept the Toffees up last season, fired the visitors ahead from close range on 15 minutes.