DAVID MOYES has warned his players he will not tolerate the “poor attitude” that delivered a setback to Everton’s pre-season preparations.

The Goodison outfit posted a hugely disappointing performance when they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Blackpool on Tuesday night.

As during the 2-2 draw with Coventry City two days earlier, defensive frailties were again evident as the Coca-Cola Championship side were gifted two goals.

But Moyes believes the team as a whole were way short of the standards they have set themselves and would be expected when Arsenal visit Goodison for the Premier League opener on Saturday week.

“It becomes a concern if you don’t think you are playing that well and we certainly didn’t play well against Blackpool,” said the Goodison manager.

“I thought Blackpool had a good attitude and looked as though they are prepared for the new season. They will look at it as a positive. We can’t.

“We didn’t look as if we were prepared. I don’t think it was down to fitness. It was down to attitude. I thought it was poor.

“We didn’t reach the standards we have set ourselves in recent years. But pre-season games can sometimes do that to you. Maybe when it does happen, it straightens you out.

“It might make the players realise how they got here and the success they have had, what they have got to do to get back to it.

“They have got a really good attitude here and they work really hard so it is noticeable when the attitude drops – especially as it did in the first half from the senior players. They know how I feel because it is my style to say what I think.”