IT WASN’T a pretty sight – and that was just Sean Dyche wearing a track suit.
The Everton boss ditched his trademark white shirt and tie for a dark blue number complete with pink flashes that was anything but a stylish fashion statement.
Yet he still found himself dressed for success as the Toffees produced their first league win at Goodison Park in 23 attempts.
Salvation was ugly for most of the time in the win that offers the crisis club a desperately needed lifeline to safety while only adding to the growing worries of opposite number Nuno Espirito Santo.
Forest are deeper in the mire with only one win in ten thanks to Idrissa Gueye’s scuffed opener before Dwight McNeil’s classy clincher in the only moment that was beautiful in this desperate “deduction derby”.
But Dyche, who only proved that 52 year olds almost never look their best when the wear tight-fitting trackies, could not have cared less about how this looked – or what football’s fashionistas might say about how he looked either.
His mood at the final whistle was a whole lot brighter than what it was going into the game.
He had pointed the finger at everyone, including his own players, for being labelled as the wrong man to save his side from relegation.
Beleaguered majority owner Farhad Moshiri got it in the neck for not warning that the club’s finances were in such a mess that points penalties were possible over huge losses.
He condemned fans for the how they were saying he had gone from hero to zero after he led their team to safety last season.
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The former Burnley boss didn’t mince his words with those players, either, in the wake of last Monday’s 6–0 humiliation by Chelsea.
From the start they didn’t take kindly, either, to his mocking words in saying to them: “Is it that tie of the year again when you just want an easy life and a new manager”
“Lads, I’m not that guy. I’m staying, I’m fighting.”
Some of those doubting supporters may now have changed their minds although the response from his players at the start suggested they were deeply in the huff with him.
It took 27 minutes to get a touch in the Forest box and that a poor, weak header from Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Ashley Young somehow dodged the attention of referee Anthony Taylor and survived a VAR examination after kicking right through Ona Reyna.
A minute from the break the veteran got away with blue murder again, this time clearly sticking out an arm to block Calum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
Jordan Pickford, meanwhile, appeared in no mood for the battle with the other side hit by the Prem for breaching Prem profit and sustainability rules.
He sent a shocking clearance straight to Morgan Gibbs-White before his defenders dashed to the rescue.
There was also a spill from a straightforward shot from Hudson-Odoi that he desperately grabbed at the second attempt.
Dyche’s players were living through their usual Hammers horror movie at home – having lost 17 and drawn five of their previous 22 games.
But after Dyche broke the habit of a touchline lifetime Idrissa Gueye suddenly stepped out of his normal guise too.
The last time he scored at Goodison was over six years ago yet there he was striding through to score even if his 29th minute strike from outside the box was something of a miss – hit.
Everton fans always scream at him not to shoot and this was his 100th effort from outside the box – so little wonder.
Yet the Forest rear guard failed to clear their lines and the Senegal international’s low strike somehow beat Matz Sels all ends up.
Having suggested in his performance that he was seriously underwhelmed by Dyche’s scathing words, he then morphed into the England No 1 again in his 250th top flight game for the Toffees.
His reaction as Gibbs-White fired a cross to Chris Wood was sensational, moving two yards to his left to block the striker’s far post, point – blank volley.
Then he stuck up his fist to block the striker’s re-bound effort.
Forest boss Nuno had a face like thunder and who could blame him for the move only underlined how technically superior his team had been.
Things got more frustrating for him after Young dodged a bullet for a third time, his tackle mid – way through the second half looking less worthy of action from VAR Stuart Atwell..
And then, 16 minutes from the end, they got so much worse for the Portuguese and his team as Everton finally came out of their shell.
Dyche’s players had been in trench warfare mode for much of the second half but suddenly they produced the game’s only true touch of style.
James Garner slid the ball into McNeil who played a one – two with Abdoulaye Doucoure, then delivered the sweetest of low left footers that hit the net off the foot of the post.
SEE HOW IT HAPPENED…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
