Dyche shows he can stand the Pace...
HE mentioned James Trafford, the shocking attack on Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler and Burnley’s community work.
But Burnley chairman and owner Alan Pace (inset) did not make any reference to Sean Dyche in his programme notes on his first return to Turf Moor since sacking him in April 2022.
OK, he’s managing the opposition now, but as Vincent Kompany said he has been as important to Burnley as Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Dyche’s reign at Burnley verged on the miraculous and the Clarets enjoyed two promotions, seven seasons out of eight in the Premier League, and qualified for Europe.
Dyche achieved all this on the most meagre of budgets – the home fans have not forgotten his contribution and applauded him as he made the familiar walk from the dressing rooms across the pitch to the dug-outs.
Former Clarets Dwight Mcneil, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane also returned, giving the game a flavour of Dyche’s old Burnley against Kompany’s new version.
While Kompany’s Burnley are very pleasing on the eye, pass the ball well and enjoy possession, they are nowhere near as effective as Dyche’s Everton.
This was evident in Blues opener on 19 minutes and even though Kompany was a defensive colossus as a player, his Clarets side lack such big men at the back.
Mcneil swung in a corner to the back post and the 6ft- 4ins Amadou Onana shrugged off Josh Brownhill to head home his second goal of the season. The Blues also outmuscled Burnley for their second goal six minutes later.
Tarkowski nodded on ordan Pickford’s free-kick for Keane to score at the second time of asking.
Everton were lethal at set-pieces and their fourth consecutive win – their best run since December 2020 – continued their remarkable renaissance under Dyche.
They have taken 19 points from a possible 24 to ease away from the relegation zone and would be level with eighth-placed
Brighton if they had not been docked 10 points. It shows Dyche (left) can manage big clubs and he has had to contend with much snobbery because he ‘only’ achieved his success at little, old Burnley. He is making all the players better and he has dispelled the myth that he only likes working with British and Irish players.
Mali midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure has been reborn under Dyche and has scored 11 times this year, including that winner against Bournemouth on the final day of last season.
Kompany’s Burnley could do with these qualities and they are just too easy to play against.
They have shipped a league high 22 goals in their eight games at Turf Moor and they lack resilience, despite James Trafford’s continued good form in goal.
They did welcome back joint-top scorer Lyle Foster and the South Africa striker made his first appearance since October 21 after overcoming mental health problems when he replaced Jay Rodriguez at half-time.
Foster’s return gives Burnley – six points from safety – some hope they can beat the drop.
Dyche has no such worries and instead he and Everton are only looking up.