Sean Dyche eager to shut out the noise and start winning games

By SABC Sport
28th January 2024

Everton manager Sean Dyche wants his players to put distractions like talk of points deductions and missing first-teamers to the back of their minds when they take on Luton Town.

The Toffees™ only victory in the last eight games was the FA Cup third round replay against Crystal Palace, but the benefit of that was negated by their last-gasp 2-1 defeat at home to Luton in the fourth round.

It was something of a flat performance which resulted in boos at the final whistle, but Dyche said his threadbare squad had to deal with the requirements of supporters who have been through the wringer in the last couple of seasons.

œThe expectation changes quickly. There is an expectation on us, we are Everton Football Club - with all due respect to Luton, the crowd are expecting us to win these games and take the game on, he said.

œThere has been a lot of noise about the points (deduction) and players missing. Win a game, that™s what they want. It™s our job to respond to that and win games. We didn™t.

œPlaying under pressure from the crowd is part of being a footballer and that is what the players have to keep responding to.

Everton™s cup exit means they now have only Premier League survival to focus on, starting with Tuesday™s trip to Fulham who themselves have been knocked out of two cup competitions in the space of a few days.

However, Dyche™s resources are being stretched to the limit with Amadou Onana sustaining a knock which could be a problem for an already seriously-depleted midfield.

He switched to an unfamiliar 4-4-2 formation with Beto paired alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin and while it did not work, Dyche admits the team needs time to adapt to operating with two up front.

œThey had moments but I think it looked like they hadn™t played a lot together - which they haven™t. That™s in its infancy, he added.

œWe have to look at a team that can win games with so many injuries in the camp. We thought two centre-forwards could be effective.

œIt is slightly unfamiliar to this club to have two centre-forwards and you can only do so much work on that in the week. You only see when the real stuff starts on the pitch.