BRANTASTIC
Jarrad calls the tune for punk lover Dyche
AFTER securing a first nervy Premier League win of 2024 Everton boss Sean Dyche celebrated watching Swedish punk rockers The Hives in concert.
The music-loving Toffees manager, who has been spotted in the odd mosh pit, could have done with taking his precocious central defender Jarrad Branthwaite with him for extra security amidst the bedlam at the Manchester Academy.
After all the 21-year-old, who was called into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, had been the shining beacon of defiance whenever Dyche’s former club threatened Jordan Pickford’s goal.
When a mercurial ex-international defender like Vincent Kompany gushes praise on a young player like Branthwaite, you have to listen.
After swallowing the hurt of a first defeat in five games which draws the Championship ever closer, Kompany said: “Full credit to Everton. There were loads of blocked shots and that kid Branthwaite keeps on putting his body on the line, what can I tell my strikers? He was sliding across (to block) five times. The kid is doing really well.
“Sometimes it’s important for a young player like him to stay away from the hype. But this is just an objective analysis because my strikers have done so well but then he gets back. Sometimes his teammates get beaten and he reads the moment to go and cover.
“It’s a side of the game he has which is really promising for the future.”
Branthwaite admitted he would have loved to have made his Three Lions bow but still enjoyed being with the England squad last month.
“No it wasn’t explained why I didn’t play but it was a good experience for me to be there,” he said.
“Disappointed I didn’t get on. It’s now about concentrating, playing at a good standard which got me where I am.”
With the Premier League revealing their decision on another possible points deduction after Everton have been accused for a second time of breaking Profit and Sustainability Rules – it could come today – Branthwaite admitted that three points against Burnley was a must.
A record 13-game winless run was also eating into the Toffees confidence. Branthwaite said: “We got the three points and that is all that matters. It wasn’t our best performance but we dug deep.
“We need to stay level-headed and focus on the next game.
“It is out of our hands what happens off the pitch. We have to train hard and put in performances on the pitch.”
This overdue victory came courtesy of Clarets keeper Arijanet Muric’s clearance rebounding off Dominic Calvert-lewin just before half-time for the England striker’s second goal in successive games after suffering a 23-game drought.
Branthwaite added: “It’s massive for him and his confidence.”
Burnley’s task became even harder with Dara O’shea’s straight red card midway through the second half.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Pickford 6; Coleman 6, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 8, Mykolenko 6; Young 6 (Harrison 83), Garner 6, Gomes 7, Mcneil 7; Doucoure 6; Calvert-lewin 7 (Beto 84). BURNLEY (4-2-3-1): Muric 5; Assignon 6 (Rodriguez 84), O’shea 5, Esteve 6, Taylor 6 (Amdouni 84); Cullen 7, Berge 6; Foster 6, Odobert 7 (Gudmundsson 84), Bruun Larsen 6 (Brownhill 69, 6); Fofana 5 (Vitinho 61, 6).