Sean Dyche makes honest Everton admission as players rise to Chelsea challenge
Sport
Comments
Sean Dyche reacts during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Chelsea FC at Goodison Park on December 22, 2024
(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Sean Dyche praised the resilience and attitude of his players after a hard-fought draw against title-chasing Chelsea. Everton kept their third consecutive clean sheet as they blunted one of the Premier League’s best teams for the second time in seven days, the Blues having held Arsenal last week.
For Dyche it was a deserved point and clean sheet. He said after the match: “It was about finding a way to get a clean sheet and another point, and a deserved point, I think it was a fair result.
"I thought both teams had good half chances, a couple of good quality chances, both teams were going at it in their different ways to try and win.”
READ MORE: What Cole Palmer did with 10 minutes remaining speaks volumes as new Everton dawn breaksREAD MORE: Everton player ratings as Jordan Pickford and two others excellent in draw with Chelsea
Everton were grateful for the back post and the in-form Jordan Pickford as they came through the first half unscathed despite Nicolas Jackson meeting several good chances. In the second half it was Jack Harrison and Iliman Ndiaye who came closest, however.
Dyche did not believe his side did quite enough to deserve to win and acknowledged his challenge remains to find a way of turning stubborn displays into three points.
He said: “I think it is five out of six clean sheets, seven in 10. We knew we had to correct that early in the season. The challenge now is to find that balance.”
On the club’s form during what had been billed as a tough December but which has seen his side take seven points from four games, he said: “I’ve never lacked pride in what we do. I am pleased with the mentality, I think there is a lot of noise outside of what the players do.
"It can affect people but I don’t think it has. We have stayed resolute to the cause and we had a group of players who have given everything today tactically to make sure we look after ourselves.”