Sam Allardyce admits concern over Everton being dragged back into a relegation battle

The sarcastic theory to explain a rancid Goodison performance is Everton are playing themselves into a relegation scuffle to give Sam Allardyce another chance to show how adept he is getting them out of it.

Since rapidly easing to a position of safety, Everton have regressed to the form that prompted managerial change.

The upcoming fixtures – in-form Leicester and a trip to Arsenal - are treacherous. Allardyce is worried.

“Yes, very, especially after performing like that and last week's second-half performance (against Spurs) when they went 2-0 down,” he said.

“I've seen a huge drain of confidence in the players in the space of one and a half football matches. The quality of the Tottenham side, I could accept that, but West Brom are in the bottom three. 

“If anyone should be suffering from nerves it should be them rather than us.”

The Everton players may have thought they had done enough.

“It was a false sense of security if they think like that,” said Allardyce. “We've only taken three points out of 18.”

Aside from the 70th-minute equaliser for Oumar Niasse, there was nothing to commend. On-field partnerships were non-existent, passing combinations a rarity and although the lack of understanding can partially be attributed to the introduction of two new players – Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun - the quest for an identifiable style was torturous.

An encouraging start gave the new regime a chance to signpost a healthier future. Instead of hope, Goodison reeked of disillusionment.

Those with preconceptions of what the football would be like under Allardyce believe their suspicions confirmed, a manager specialising in helping clubs out of the mire now challenged to impose a more dynamic game.

Allardyce argues that will take time and – potentially and worryingly given the scale of investment since last summer – another overhaul of players.

“As a team we are light in legs, in pace,” he said. “That is something I have to cope with until we finish the end of this season and we look at the whole squad and say 'what do we do to make it better?'”

One wonders what majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri thinks when he hears this. Are we really to believe the only one accountable for such an imbalanced squad is Ronald Koeman?

Judgment on the latest striker signing Tosun must be reserved until he is fitter and acclimatised, but the Turk looked a willing enthusiast rather than evidence Director of Football Steve Walsh sees what other scouts miss.

Walcott, at least, made a significant contribution on his debut with his assist for Niasse. The African is one of the most limited strikers Everton have relied on in their history, but even he is so important Allardyce said there was ‘no way’ he could let him leave.

With James McCarthy out for the season after his double-leg break, there may be more urgency for Allardyce to offload the previous intake of signings to make space for Steven N’Zonzi. His need for a left back is also more evident each time Cuco Martina has to work the ball onto his right foot.

For all these problems, Alan Pardew would still willingly swap places. West Brom need to turn these encouraging draws into scruffy wins, but their schedule is also daunting. They were comfortable when leading thanks to Jay Rodriguez, but unable to withstand minimal pressure. It is a point gained with regret.

“It was a strong performance against an Everton side which has invested big this week,” he said.

“There was a lot of offensive talent we had to take care of. It was us pushing at the end, perhaps we should have won it in the last five minutes.”