DYCHE'S TOFFEES DIG DEEP

TOM BLACKETT REPORTS ON EVERTON'S BATTLE TO STAY IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE...

- TOM BLACKETT

IT’S been another turbulent season for Everton and their coveted topflight status remains in jeopardy, but there are reasons to believe Sean Dyche can lead the Toffees to safety.

When Frank Lampard was sacked after defeat to West Ham in January, the Merseysiders were staring down the barrel. It left them 19th in the table - just above bottom side Southampton on goal difference - with a paltry 15 points from 20 matches.

The only positive was that a whole bunch of other clubs were also struggling to string results together, meaning Everton, on the crest of a slump, were only two points from safety.

But it wasn’t just on the pitch where the Toffees had problems. There had been widespread and vocal protests from fans against the board, and supporters staged a sit-in demonstration after the loss to Southampton.

Everton’s board of directors missed that game because of what the club claimed was a “real and credible threat to their safety”.