Journalist shares ‘particularly galling’ Sean Dyche issue after Everton loss v Luton Town
Everton manager Sean Dyche would have found his side’s inability to take advantage of key chances “particularly galling” in their 2-1 home loss to Luton Town, according to journalist Chris Beesley.
The Toffees’ recent upturn in form came to a crashing halt at Goodison Park on Saturday [30 September] as Luton claimed a surprise victory – their first ever in the Premier League.
Everton created numerous chances but converted just one of them via Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with opposition goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski making four other saves.
In an article for the Liverpool Echo on Wednesday [4 October], Beesley said: “What must have been particularly galling for Dyche was that while his side are renowned for their distribution, it was largely on point against the Hatters despite their inability to make it count.
“Not only did Everton make the most successful key passes in the Premier League this matchday (10), some two more than next best West Ham United and a figure way above their average of 2.86 which places them 14th in the division, they also led the way for successful long passes (35, ahead of Manchester United on 33) and crosses (35 with United again second on 30) and their 14 successful crosses was second only to West Ham on 16.”
Same old issues
Everton really did appear to have turned a corner after defeating Brentford and Aston Villa in the space of four days last week.
With seven goals scored in four games, the goalscoring problems that blighted the opening month of the campaign also looked a thing of the past.
But once again they were let down by an inability to take advantage of some promising attacking moves in their humbling home loss to the Hatters.
Everton’s expected goals (xG) return of 12.3 is better than that of West Ham (11.1), for example, yet they have scored seven goals fewer than the Hammers [FBref].
Only once they put that right will they be able to start climbing up the division. The first chance to do so comes against Bournemouth at Goodison next weekend in what is a massive contest for Dyche and his players.
In other Everton news, fresh concerns have been raised regarding prospective buyers 777 Partners.