Gareth Barry urges Everton to focus on defence after Goodison stroll

Gareth Barry has warned Everton they cannot rely on goals to get them out of trouble following their crushing win over Sunderland on Sunday.

Everton cruised into a 2-0 lead at Goodison Park but Sam Allardyce's strugglers levelled before Arouna Kone completed his hat-trick to help secure a 6-2 victory.

Barry, however, has urged his team-mates not to forget about the defensive side of their game with Roberto Martinez's men having already conceded 15 in 11 games, the joint second-worst among the Premier League's top 14 sides.

"We are enjoying the win but the experienced players know on another day you want to be a lot tighter," said the midfielder.

"It is important we don't get away from the fact there is a lot of confidence from the attacking flavour but throughout the week we will be working on that attacking-defending balance, because we don't want to be giving away too many chances like that.

"Their first goal changed the game. If we are going in at half-time at 2-0 we are really comfortable and the confidence is different and their attitude to the second half is different. There are a lot of lessons to be learned as with 30 seconds to go we've got the ball in their half and all of a sudden it's in the back of our goal.

"We should be better than that and there is experience on the pitch to stop that happening. But fair play to the lads we bounced back from conceding the second and created a lot of chances."

Kone has now scored five league goals in his last six starts to sit just one behind Romelu Lukaku, with whom he has struck up a profitable partnership.

The Ivorian's hat-trick also coincided with the triggering of a 12-month contract extension as a result of an appearance-based clause and represented a significant turnaround in fortunes for Kone, who has spent much of his time injured at Goodison Park.

"Arouna has had a couple of tough years with injury and people questioning the transfer, but we have seen glimpses in training when he has been fit that when he gets a run of games he will be able to do what he has done and him and Romelu have struck up a good partnership and are causing problems," added Barry.

"It is not too often you see two strikers playing together but I am sure the manager has tried to get Arouna in the team with Rom because they are both goalscoring threats."

Gerard Deulofeu, who opened the scoring against Sunderland, also impressed with a goal and two assists and at 21 Barry believes the Barcelona academy graduate has plenty of time to develop.

"The goal will give him massive confidence and he plays for creating chances probably more than scoring," he added. "You forget how young he is because his name has been around for a bit and he's had a spell here already.

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"But like a lot of young players in the dressing room they are still learning and will make mistakes and that will frustrate the fans sometimes, but ultimately if they keep improving they are going to have a good career."