Sean Dyche hailed goalscorers Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure as he praised several individual Everton displays in their 5-1 thrashing of Brighton & Hove Albion and explained what he’s been telling the former to overcome his ‘nemesis.’
Like Doucoure, McNeil bagged a brace at the Amex Stadium while also putting in the cross for home keeper Jason Steele’s own goal and Dyche said: “It’s something I’ve encouraged him to do ever since I’ve known him. His nemesis is sometimes coming deep and short and I’ve explained to him, we want you to go and break the back line, we want you to be dominant with your running as he can carry the ball really, really well.
“Sometimes if he’s been questioned a little bit, he goes inside and short. I’ve said ‘no, no, keep going, keep driving forwards’ because he does it so well and he can cross the ball and as we saw here, he can deliver calm finishes as well – his two finishes are terrific.
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“It’s just another sign of what he’s got, I think he’s got a lot to be honest but I think that about a lot of these players when they’re on the edge, they’re all playing well and they’re all full of confidence. But you have to build confidence, it doesn’t come natural with all players and I think Dwight has been building his confidence levels and performances.”
Doucoure set Everton on the way to victory by netting their first two goals. His opener came after just 34 seconds but his second – sweetly struck on the volley – came after a lung-busting run from his own half after he started the move.
Dyche said: “Since I’ve been here, he’s done that so many times. The reward for his work ethic, the reward for getting forward and it’s a great finish but the run behind that, that’s what we’ve been speaking to the players about, the commitment to the cause and that’s a great sign of that.
“There were a few like that. Alex on transition, Dwight on transition, they’re signs of a group of players who want to take a performance on so you’ve got to be pleased with that.”
The Blues boss added: “Doucs has been tremendous anyway since I got here but it’s not just his energy but his will to go and score a goal. I’ve always liked Dwight as everyone would know and he’s delivered a very good performance but also Dom – who missed 10 games for us – makes a big difference.
“No disrespect to any of the other forwards because I believe in all of them but he’s quite obviously a very good player and that does give you more of a focal point at times so I’m pleased for him and he’s getting fitter and stronger.
“There were so many good performances. I thought Patto was excellent against one of the highest-performing wide men in the division.”
Explaining what Everton, who had previously won just once away from home all season – a 2-1 comeback victory at bottom club Southampton on October 1 – had changed on this occasion, Dyche said: “It wasn’t different in the mentality as we still want to take the game on but there are different ways of taking the game on, we just had to do a different idea. We’ve pressed a lot of teams since I’ve been here but now it was about a patient press, getting your distances right and not just doing that but reacting on transition, that was the most-pleasing thing.
“In possession, physical performance is really important, it’s not just out of possession where you’ve got to press and break up the game but our in possession, our running, our turnovers was very pleasing and of course the quality moments that scored the goals.”
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