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He admitted it was a deliberate ploy after a rethink following the Chelsea loss, a symbolic gesture that he wanted to be in the trenches with the players.
“I knew it would be a talking point,” said Dyche. “I spoke to my staff and players to question ourselves. We looked at training ideas, plans, tactics and the team and I wanted to play my part.”
Such was Dyche’s proactivity appealing for every free-kick and throw-in, his energy was reflected on the pitch, Jack Harrison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and McNeil back to full application, while James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were intent on showing events at Stamford Bridge were a blip.
The game plan manifested itself early, Everton peppering set-pieces while Forest hoped their pace might pierce a well-drilled defence. It never did.
Everton had the platform they craved when Gueye beat Matz Sels, whose slow reaction enabled the well-placed strike to bounce in off the post.
After Forest’s penalty appeals, Everton desperately needed a second to relieve their anxieties. McNeil obliged. Only an ugly injury to substitute striker Beto soured the mood, the back-up striker likely to miss the next few games due to concussion protocols.
“It’s a big important win, but we still have work to do,” said Dyche. “With 38 points (before the deductions) people would be viewing it differently. It is within our capability to make sure (of safety), but it would be handy if people stop taking points off us.”
The gap to the bottom three is now five points and it is those below who need to find a saviour. Forest can start by following Everton’s blueprint on Sunday. They need to look at themselves for delivering such an average performance in a consequential fixture before finding scapegoats elsewhere.
“We should blame ourselves because we had clear chances and should have done better,” insisted Nuno.
Maybe he should send that memo to others at his club.
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