PHIL JAGIELKA admits Everton’s poor home form has made them “apprehensive” of playing at Goodison.

The 2-0 defeat in Saturday’s 208th Merseyside derby means David Moyes’s side have lost their opening three home games of the campaign.

It is in stark contrast to their away form, with Everton still unbeaten on their travels with two wins and one draw.

Moyes’s men only lost four Premier League games at Goodison last season – all against the four teams that finished above them in the table – and took until December 29 to concede as many home league goals as they already have this campaign.

And Jagielka said: “There are no excuses. You could argue the grass was too green and the ball was too round, but the fact is we were beaten by a better team. That’s been the case in a couple of games this season.

“We’re conceding too many goals at home. That’s the one thing that sticks out. Last season we didn’t concede anywhere near as many at the start.

“We’re giving ourselves a bit of an uphill task, but hopefully it’s just getting our blip out of the way ridiculously early in the season.

“We’re a little bit apprehensive when playing at home because we haven’t won at Goodison this season. If you don’t win at home, then you start to get nervous.”

Jagielka added: “People’s expectations are greater because of how we’ve progressed in recent seasons, but I wouldn’t say we’ve made a rod for our own backs.