Against All Odds

Sean Dyche: Everton will play in the top flight of English football for a 71st consecutive season next August despite overcoming historical circumstances, with two separate points deductions and subsequent appeal processes. Manager Sean Dyche should rightly receive plaudits for keeping a relative calm at the club while many were losing their heads all around him, he has had challenges which no other Everton manager, at least in modern times, have had to endure. Everton confirmed their place in next season’s Premier League with a victory over Brentford at the previous weekend. His straight-talking, balanced and equable approach has been both a source of comfort and place of sanctuary for many. Of course, he has suffered some troubling periods, a run of 15 games without a win concerned the fans and understandable criticism came his way. But even then, he stuck to his principles!