LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 04: Gary O'Neil, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, looks dejected as Sean Dyche, Manager of Everton, reacts during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at Goodison Park on December 04, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Gary O'Neil, manager of Wolves, looks dejected as Sean Dyche barks out the instructions to his Everton players
“You’re getting sacked in the morning” chanted the Wolverhampton Wanderers fans from Goodison Park’s away section in the Bullens Road. But thankfully for Sean Dyche, their jibes were not aimed at him but their own manager Gary O’Neil as Everton ran out emphatic 4-0 winners, despite having two further goals disallowed.
It was just one of several brutal remarks from the travelling West Midlands supporters towards their beleaguered boss with “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “Gary O’Neil, your football is s***,” audible from the other side of the ground in the Main Stand Press Box.
Despite being the man who sent Dyche’s predecessor Frank Lampard on the slippery slope to the sack with a brace of crushing Dorset defeats in the space of four days in November 2022 when he was still caretaker manager at Bournemouth, O’Neil was also Cherries boss on the final day of that season when Everton avoided a first relegation in 72 years by a single Abdoulaye Doucoure goal.
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That victory – the third time the Blues’ Premier League status has been on the line in the last fixture of a campaign – represented a 'great escape' for Dyche who had taken the reins 20 games in with the team joint bottom of the table, and given what was at stake, this was arguably his most high-pressure encounter since.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference for Wolves’ visit, the 53-year-old spoke about his desire to give Everton’s loyal but long suffering fanbase the final season they deserve for Goodison Park’s historic final campaign. Up until this point, there had been little for the home faithful to cheer.
But while there has been murmurings about a potential change of partner for the last dance with ‘The Grand Old Lady,’ Dyche strengthened his grip on her for now with what could be a potentially crucial result for him and his players.