Sue Smith waxes lyrical about Sean Dyche impact at Everton amid relegation battle, live on Sky Sports
Sue Smith has admitted the “belief” that Sean Dyche has instilled in his Everton team and the Goodison Park supporters will go a long way to helping the club avoid relegation this season.
The Toffees climbed out of the relegation zone and up to 15th position with a well-deserved 2-2 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (Saturday 18 March), in which Ellis Simms scored his first goal for the club.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News (Monday 20 March, 12:27pm), Smith waxed lyrical about the turnaround Dyche has overseen since taking the reins from Frank Lampard and admitted that the club will believe they can navigate their way through a tricky run of fixtures after claiming a point against a Europe-chasing Chelsea side.
“I think when you look at the bottom of the table, it could be three from any nine teams who could potentially go down, but one thing I do think Sean Dyche has done is give a belief not only to the players but to the fans as well, that they can get out of trouble and pick up points against the likes of Chelsea away from home.
“I think he is very honest with the players, I think he sets standards to the players both on and off the field that the players are buying into, there is an organisation and hunger to defend, and If you can find those moments of quality that Ellis Simms did and find the back the net [it helps].
“I think trying to keep Dominic Calvert-Lewin fit has been an issue but you’ve had Gray up there that has worked, his running off the ball, his movement, his quality, and then obviously the young man coming on and having the moment of quality.
“That’s where Everton can pick up points, and there is more belief there.”
Promising signs
Considering the dire straights that Everton were in a mere month or two ago under Lampard, the job that Dyche has done is quite remarkable.
The Toffees are by no means home and dry yet, but their recent run of form suggests that the team do have the capabilities to pull away from the relegation zone and confirm their Premier League status for next year.
Central to the turnaround under the Englishman has been the hunger of the team, both on and off the ball, and the desire to leave it all out on the field. The running that Abdoulaye Doucoure and Amadou Onana got through in the middle of the park is the prime example of this, and in particular, the former player’s performances must be acknowledged.
During the 2-2 draw against Graham Potter’s team, Everton played with a belief they lacked under Lampard and all the credit must go to the man in the dugout.