Roberto Martinez keen to arrest Everton's recent slump

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is desperate to arrest his team's recent slump in form when they play Watford at Vicarage Road.

Both teams are in need of the three points having failed to win any of their games since clinching a place in the FA Cup semi-finals last month.

Everton have lost to Arsenal and Manchester United since their quarter-final win over Chelsea, while Watford also lost to the Gunners after a home defeat to Stoke since they beat Arsene Wenger's side in the cup.

Watford's semi-final opponents, Crystal Palace, who play Everton in midweek, have not won a top-flight match in 2016.

While Everton have yet to discover their next opponents in the FA Cup, Martinez is concerned his team could lose buoyancy for that match if they do not pick up their league form.

"You can work on every aspect of the game, and every technicality, but confidence comes with achieving good results and feeling good about yourself," Martinez said.

"It's something we need to regain with a good performance and getting back to winning ways. It's as simple as that. We need to simplify it.

"We should forget about the semi-final. Every team that got through to the semi-finals, they haven't won a game in the league.

"That's probably something that happens when you reach a real high, it's difficult to reach the same level in the next few games. That's why we need to control the level of performance in the game against Watford."

The Everton manager expects a tough encounter in Hertfordshire based on Watford's display in the 2-2 draw at Goodison in August, when he was impressed by the sharpness of Quique Sanchez Flores' side.

Martinez said: "They are in a similar situation. First and foremost I think Watford have had an outstanding season.

"We faced them in the opening game of the campaign, they surprised us with how quickly they got into the tempo of the Premier League, how well organised Quique Sanchez Flores had the team, the partnership that has been so successful playing up front, and I think they are not a surprise any more.

"What they are doing in the cup is probably what makes it a really interesting game. Both sides are desperate to get the form into the league."