Everton manager Sean Dyche says working with his players is a “conundrum” as he tries to end their 11-game winless run in the Premier League.
Dyche saw his players lose 2-0 at Manchester United despite looking particularly dangerous early in the game and having more attempts at goal on their way to a second successive defeat.
“Unfortunately, it’s same old, same old,” said Dyche, whose side have scored one goal or less in 14 of their last 15 matches in all competitions.
“Come to Old Trafford, 23 shots, 45 entries into the box with quality. It’s very rare, in my experience in management, that you do that here.
“The devil’s in the detail and we can’t quite find the killer moments. We had enough today in the early part of the game, when we should have been in front – there are no two ways about it.”
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The Toffees are five points above third-bottom Luton Town with two fewer games to play, although they would be 13th but for a six-point deduction for breaching Premier League financial rules.
The 29 goals they have scored is the lowest by any top-flight team except second-bottom Sheffield United and Burnley below them.
Man United vs Everton penalties ‘soft’
The international break gives Dyche three weeks to work with his players before they visit Bournemouth on March 30, when he expects them to take “responsibility” for being more ruthless in front of goal.
“We’re getting in the right areas, in the key areas,” said Dyche. “Scoring goals is a difficult skill – if it was that easy, everyone would do it – but we’re getting into some incredible positions.
“Unfortunately same old, same old!”
Sean Dyche gives @julesbreach his assessment following defeat at Old Trafford… PIC.TWITTER.COM/Z7RYLFHPBA
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) MARCH 9, 2024
“We should be scoring more goals. It’s got to change. We’re going to try to work out the conundrum that is working with the players.
“We’ll get a bit of time with the group for the internationals, use that wisely and remain them of the good stuff they’ve done.”
Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored United’s first-half goals from the penalty spot to see off Everton, with James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey guilty of fouling Alejandro Garnacho inside the box.
“They were soft penalties from our point of view but a lot of the defensive work was very good,” said Dyche.
