Everton boss Sean Dyche was left satisfied with their FA Cup replay win against Crystal Palace.
The Blues won 1-0 on Wednesday night thanks to Andre Gomes' strike.
Dyche later said: "I'm pleased with the result. On the performance, we have played better and lost actually. We never really found a true groove during the game, but there was slightly more purpose to our play in the second half.
"In the first half, we never really found the fluid play that we'd like to find. Saying that, a fantastic goal seals it in the end. But we did look solid, we never looked in too much trouble with the shape of the team or the energy of the team. That's a good base for us to build on this season, when we are not playing well [and still getting the win]. In the end, it proves it with another clean sheet and we are three unbeaten now.
"Changing the story around another way again is an important factor and we got the win tonight.
"These bits of news coming out are tough. Tough for the Evertonians, tough for the Club and tough for myself and the team. The mentality has been resolute all season I think - the way the players are going about it. Without finding true fluid play tonight, we still looked solid, and energised and found a way to win the game which is important. In the second half, there was more purpose to our play.
"Generally speaking, it was a flat performance. Some of these Cup games are hard to explain, but the way football has changed now, the Premier League games are so enormous. The feel of them, the exposure of them, so some of these Cup games can be odd affairs. It felt like that in the first half, apart from the sublime goal.
"Second half there was a bit more energy and purpose, the crowd came to life a bit more as well. We got there in the end by winning the game. Joao (Virgina) ends up making a fantastic save late in the game to make sure we do win - he played his part amongst others.
"We've not lacked [energy] from a bigger picture perspective, it was just tonight it was a flat atmosphere and flat performance, apart from the goal. Second half there was a bit more energy, purpose and fight to see the game through, get a clean sheet and the win."
