Sean Dyche unleashes Everton's most creative player as supporters get what they ask for

Painting by numbers

“The paintbrush” was out against Nottingham Forest again to secure a first Premier League double for Everton over their opponents for the first time since the 1996/97 season.

The artistic tool in question is the nickname given to Dwight McNeil’s wand of a left foot by his team-mates at Finch Farm and after an injury-hit start to this season, it was on show back in December at the City Ground as the winger netted his first goal of the campaign. That strike began a sequence of four consecutive victories for the Blues while McNeil himself followed it up with another at home to Newcastle United in the next game five days later.

With the Merseyside Derby next on the horizon, Evertonians would love a repeat of that but for now at least, a third goal this term for McNeil – who netted seven last season, including five since Sean Dyche’s appointment – will just be celebrated for capping this most-important of wins. In a team short on inventiveness, the Rochdale-born player is regularly the Blues’ most-creative player and there is a feeling he could be producing such magic moments as this laser-guided low strike that went in off Matz Sels’ left-hand post more often.

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He certainly seemed to have been given more licence to roam here by his Dyche, who with his ginger beard and fiery demeanour, offers the closest resemblance any Premier League manager can offer to Vincent van Gogh, whether suited and booted or having changed into his training gear on this occasion. Like one of the Dutch artist’s masterpieces, the win that McNeil’s goal secured could be worth millions – now that’s painting by numbers.

Now you’re Gana believe us

While Evertonians might believe there should be more goals from McNeil, there weren’t many home fans inside Goodison Park shouting “shoot” towards Idrissa ‘Gana’ Gueye when the ball dropped to him outside the Forest area. But nevertheless the veteran Senegalese midfielder held his nerve to despatch his own decisive effort off Sels’ other post.

Gueye only found the net three times in 99 matches for the Blues in his first spell at Goodison between 2016-19 but having come off the bench to grab a late winner in a 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace on Armistice Day, he now has two goals this season and is only one behind McNeil this term. Perhaps playing alongside the likes of world-class hot shots such as Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi for three years at Paris Saint-Germain has paid off in this respect for the 34-year-old?

The Everton faithful have known what Gana’s bread and butter is for a long time in that he’s one of the best in the business at putting out fires in front of his defence and his welcome return really helped the team in this respect here. But with Dyche asking all of his squad to start chipping in with the goals, Gueye kept his head to show that he has another string to his bow when he gets his technique right.

Case for the defence

After being hit for six by Chelsea, Everton responded by keeping their 10th clean sheet in the Premier League this season and second in consecutive home matches.

Only table-topping Arsenal have more with 15 shut-outs as the Blues join sixth-placed Newcastle United in reaching double figures this term. Such statistics show just how out of character the shambles at Stamford Bridge actually was.

With Dyche having lost both club captain Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson to injury last time out, Ashley Young started at right-back for the first time since the 2-0 home win over Chelsea back on December 10. Although the 38-year-old had to endure a few nervy moments, he came through this test alongside the rest of the unit. It was the youngest member of Everton’s rear-guard, Jarrad Branthwaite who impressed the most though.

Rather than being the Blues’ ‘big baby’, the 21-year-old put his ‘capital punishment’ behind him to produce a heroic display here, battling on after getting hurt again while also surging forward with the ball at his feet on a couple of occasions to resemble something of a latter day Franz Beckenbauer or ‘Carlisle Kaiser.’ Jordan Pickford's kicking was still not up to his usual high standards but crucially he commanded his area with dominance and made some big saves, although it remains to be seen what Dyche made of the goalkeeper turning to the Gwladys Street to celebrate one while the ball was still in play.

Fight for us

There’s been a banner in the stands made by Evertonians that has come out at important times in recent seasons containing a simple but stark message to their team that reads: “Fight for us.”

After what happened in the capital five days earlier, that was the hope of all loyal but long-suffering Blues supporters inside Goodison here, but the players, who James Tarkowski said had let their manager down when apologising to the fans after the 6-0 horror show, did just that here when it mattered. Back wearing the armband in Coleman’s enforced absence, Tarkowski led by example in this respect, hurling himself at shots and loose balls and he was getting support from his colleagues, including ones who weren’t exactly the usual suspects.

Jack Harrison, started 21 out of 22 Premier League games for Everton between the two fixtures home and away against Bournemouth, but had been on the bench for the last three fixtures. Returning here, there weren’t many highlight reel moments from the on-loan Leeds United man but instead he produced a performance that was more graft than craft for the benefit of the side.

Also, spare a thought for Beto. The Portuguese striker put himself about after replacing Dominic Calvert-Lewin midway through the second half only to be knocked unconscious in a clash of heads with Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White.

It was a sickening moment, as was the reaction of the away fans who sang “sign on” toward their Everton counterparts as the Blues substitute lay motionless, receiving treatment. Thankfully, he was still able to raise a Coleman-esque punch of defiance from his stretcher as he left the field to a warm ovation from most of those inside the ground.