Sean Dyche rejects claim Everton missed opportunity against Crystal Palace and explains Goodison Park ‘expectation’

Sean Dyche does not believe the draw against Crystal Palace was a missed opportunity for Everton.

Injuries, form and managerial uncertainty meant the visitors arrived at Goodison Park in turmoil for a game that presented Everton with a chance to land a blow on a potential relegation rival.

But the Blues instead laboured to a disappointing draw and only achieved that due to a late fightback after Jordan Ayew’s stunning strike gave Palace the lead just after the hour.

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Dyche accepted his side started poorly but was unwilling to concede the result represented a missed chance for his team.

Asked whether he thought that was the case, he said: “No, it is another point on the board, we have just popped out of the relegation zone as well.” Dyche added the context of the 10 point deduction that has plunged his team into trouble despite a season of progress on the pitch. He said he was unaware of when the verdict of Everton’s appeal against the sanction, expected imminently, was due.

The Blues boss acknowledged his side had struggled during a disappointing first half and suggested that was due to the pressure of expectation. His side has produced strong displays against European-chasing teams across a two month winless streak in the Premier League but saved one of its worst displays for a rare game it started as favourite.

Asked why he thought his team was “off” in the first half, Dyche said: “I think the demand is different. With these games it is being the favourites, sometimes the hardest fight to win is the one everyone expects you to. It was a different game tonight, there was a different feel in the stadium, I have learnt that – I said to the players at half time the expectation is different, you can feel it in the stadium, so it is our responsibility, don’t worry about the fans, they have been great, it is our responsibility to play up and I was pleased with the performance in the second half in that respect. We were braver with the ball, we stayed calm when there was demand, we had better effect to try and open up chances against an organised side that by then were playing counter attacking football after going one up.”