Game says Dyche, as Everton victory ensures their safety

management. ‘It’s certainly my biggest one to lead a group from where it was to where it is,’ said the Everton manager, who has had a total of eight points ripped away from his team this season for breaches of the league’s financial rules.

‘Last season was tough enough, but this season has been incredibly tough. The knocks keep coming, including myself by the way. This job is not the way it got pitched to me, trust me.

‘We’ve relied on no-one but ourselves this season. We haven’t been given anything, no easy ride and I’m super proud of everyone involved.’

It hasn’t always been pretty at times. Look no further than the first half against Brentford, where neither side could muster an attempt on goal.

Dwight McNeil finally kicked the game into life in the second half, rattling a shot from distance off the crossbar. That got bums off seats in the Gwladys Street Stand and those fans were soon bouncing when Gueye ran onto a loose ball in the Brentford box and smashed it past keeper Mark

Flekken. A VAR check brought a temporary halt to that joy, but the jubilant scenes resumed when referee Darren England confirmed the goal stood.

James Garner almost sealed the win with a superb free-kick that thundered off the bar, but Gueye’s goal was enough to help Everton clear the final fence to safety.

There will be plenty more hurdles to come in the near future for Dyche and his men given the club’s ongoing takeover saga and perilous financial position.

But survival means they will play top-flight football in their final season at Goodison Park before moving to their swanky new Bramley-Moore Dock home.

Who knows what the future holds? But this is at least the start of what they hope will be a befitting swansong for this historic old stadium.

EVERTON (4-4-2): Pickford 7; Godfrey 6.5, Tarkowski 6.5, Branthwaite 7, Young 6; Harrison 6,

GUEYE 7.5 (Onana 78min), Garner 7, McNeil 7; Doucoure 6.5, Chermiti 6 (Keane 95).

Booked: Tarkowski.

Manager: Sean Dyche 6.5.

BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Flekken 6; Ajer 5.5 (Roerslev 84), Collins 6, Pinnock 6, Reguilon 5.5 (Schade 77); Jensen 6, Norgaard 6 (Yarmoliuk 78), Janelt 6 (Damsgaard 68, 5.5); Mbeumo 5, Toney 5, Wissa 5 (Lewis-Potter 68, 5.5).

Booked: Reguilon, Mbeumo.

Manager: Thomas Frank 5.

Referee: Darren England 6.