Tim Howard: I don't know why we fell apart at Wigan - Everton latest

But Howard, who kept his side in the match with two spectacular saves, says his team-mates are just as upset after failing to do themselves justice, and is at a loss to explain why they played so badly.

"It was a bad night all around," said Howard. "We expected big things and wanted to keep our run going but it didn't happen. We have got to do a lot better.

"We wanted to be hard to beat and we looked fairly comfortable. We had a great chance with Louis (Saha) early on, but in the second half we fell apart.

"We didn't really look like ourselves. We weren't composed and it's difficult to put a finger on why it happened, as I thought we played pretty well in the first half.

"All of a sudden - bang! We were under pressure and ran out of ideas, which was very disappointing. Even during our little five-game run, we knew things needed to improve.

"When you lose a game, maybe it's easier to sit down and assess it. We've now got to lick our wounds and get back up- starting at Tottenham."

As Howard and the rest of Everton's squad prepare for the post mortem, Vaughan is facing up to the prospect that he could need an operation on his right knee - the opposite joint to the one that has previously caused him so much trouble.

He was injured at Finch Farm yesterday and will be out for between six weeks and three months.

The American keeper is distraught for his colleague.

"I've spoken to Vaughany and obviously everyone wishes him all the best," said Howard. "He will run through a wall for you and that's not a cliché.

"Unfortunately, sometimes he has been hampered by that. With some players you can't get them to work hard enough or stick their heads in where it hurts.

"He does it all the time. The unfortunate part is that he hasn't been rewarded. We are all gutted for him but he will bounce back. He always does."

dominicking@liverpoolecho.co.uk