He said: "I always thought we would rise to the occasion against Everton. There was so much on it, we were bound to be up for it, and it really was a fantastic performance.
"The big question now, though, is can we produce the same level of performance when there isn't the same sense of occasion? That is where we have fallen down this season, against the so-called lesser teams. That is when our standards have dropped.
"I can't explain it, but it is essential now that the Everton performance becomes the benchmark for the rest of the campaign.
"There's no point dwelling on problems from earlier in the season. We have got to take encouragement from our recent form against Bayer Leverkusen and Everton and look forward with confidence and self belief. Those are the levels we've got to maintain in every game now, regardless of the opposition.
"We haven't always done it before, but the good thing is we're so close to that final Champions League place now. The Everton win has given us all a huge lift, and I think that will drive us on now. Everybody is heading into the two week break on a high note, so we should return for the Bolton game in the same spirit.
"You could see from the manager's reaction at the end that it meant a lot for him as well. He doesn't normally come onto the pitch and join in celebrations like that, but he knows how much it means to the supporters. Clearly it does to him, too."