LIVERPOOL -- Under-fire Everton manager Roberto Martinez credited the return of Tim Howard for giving the Toffees a "calm influence" in Saturday's morale-boosting 2-1 home win against Bournemouth.
Howard, who served as the Toffees No. 1 goalkeeper for a decade until losing his starting job to Joel Robles this year, was back in the nets for the first time since Jan. 24.
Martinez announced on Friday that the U.S. international, who will move to the Colorado Rapids of MLS in July, would play in Everton's final two home games of the season.
And the Spaniard said Howard's leadership was crucial to securing three points on Saturday.
"I though he was a real calm influence, which was important," Martinez said. "He's been leading the team on many occasions in the dressing room, with the youngsters coming through, and that was a good opportunity to have a real good send off and a real good opportunity for everyone to treasure the incredible contribution he's given us over the last 10 seasons."
Martinez doesn't expect Howard's impact on Everton to end when he changes clubs.
"He will always be an Evertonian," Martinez said. "He will always be an incredible ambassador wherever he goes. I'm glad he was on the winning side today."
Martinez has been criticized heavily by Everton fans in his third season at the helm. His team has lost eight games at home and suffered a double disappointment over the last two weeks, getting humiliated 4-0 against rivals Liverpool, then narrowly missing out on an FA Cup final berth with a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in the semis.
The victory they earned Saturday relieved the pressure, if only a little.
"It's always important to get that winning feeling back," Martinez said after a second half goal from defender Leighton Baines broke a 1-1 deadlock and gave the hosts the spoils. "It was a hard-earned win and a win that we needed."
Everton took the lead though Tom Cleverley's seventh-minute strike. But the visitors answered just two minutes later, although Martinez and the Everton players thought defender Matthew Pennington -- who was making his Premier league debut -- had been fouled in the buildup to Marc Pugh's equalizer.
"Pennington is impeded," Martinez said. "Obviously he's a little bit off balance and he gets pushed aside, and it was right in front of the linesman."
As for the criticism, Martinez tried to take it in stride.
"I can understand," he said of the fans frustration. "I'm the manager of the football club and I'm the one that takes the responsibility of it. That's how it works. We are in the results business. All I need to do now is make sure that we carry on showing that character and togetherness as a team."
He added: "My intention is to win football games and to be successful. That doesn't change. It's a privilege and an honor to be the manager of Everton.
"Three seasons give me a very strong understanding of what's needed. We need to learn from our mistakes."
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe's name has been linked with Everton should Martinez be sacked, but he was keen to distance himself from the speculation.
"I am absolutely committed to Bournemouth and while I have the relationship with the owner I will be staying at the club," he said.
Bournemouth have been safe from relegation for a few weeks now but Howe rejected suggestions his players had eased off now their future was secure.
"People have been accusing us of that for weeks," he said. "I am training the players as hard as ever. Losing hurts and I am determined to end the season on a high.
"We created some great chances and didn't take them. How we conceded two goals today is a difficult one to come back on."
Information from Press Association was used in this report.
