Everton manager Sean Dyche reacts after his side conceded four quick goals either side of half-time to lose 4-0 at Manchester United
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 01: Sean Dyche, Manager of Everton, looks on as he walks towards the tunnel at half-time during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Everton FC at Old Trafford on December 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Sean Dyche, Everton manager, during the defeat at Manchester United
(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Sean Dyche denied Everton collapsed in the second half of their dismal 4-0 defeat against Manchester United. Dyche's side started well at Old Trafford but conceded two poor goals just before the break to enter half-time 2-0 down.
Marcus Rashford added a third within the first minute of the second half after calamitous defending saw a long ball from Jordan Pickford cleared by the hosts, who then undid the Blues with a few simple passes.
Joshua Zirkzee added the fourth just after the hour mark in a game in which Everton were masters of their own downfall.
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Asked how he could explain the failure to mount a challenge in the second half, Blues boss Dyche said after the game: “There's no collapse, they scored the third in the first 30 seconds, 3-0 down at any level of football is very difficult, particularly at this level.”
Everton had trailed after Jarrad Branthwaite diverted a Rashford effort into his own goal before the centre-back was dispossessed in his own half, allowing Bruno Fernandes to set up Zirkzee for his first.
The break had offered a chance to reset that the Blues lost within seconds of the restart.
When questioned how disappointed he was for his side to concede so soon after the break, Dyche added: “You can't legislate for that. I've never seen my team do that, or a team I have worked with. It's not necessarily right on goal but they are in a very advantageous goalscoring position.
“So it's no collapse. It's just a ridiculous moment for a team to give away such a soft goal.
“That was my biggest gripe with the goals. Mistakes can happen. And these are good players who rarely make them mistakes.
“But that as a team was certainly something you can’t legislate for. And the team know that, of course they do.”