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Boss' Reaction To Important Leeds Win

Sean Dyche praised the ability of his side to move on quickly after a deserved 1-0 victory over Leeds United handed Everton their first back-to-back wins at Goodison Park of the season.

Seamus Coleman’s stunning 64th-minute strike from the tightest of angles secured all three points for the Blues,  who bounced back from defeat in the Merseyside derby just five days previously.

Everton controlled proceedings throughout on their way to a second successive clean sheet on home soil, with Leeds unable to register a shot on target over the 90 minutes.

“I think it was [deserved] overall,” Dyche told evertontv. “They’re all important wins, make no mistake. On your eye it was deserved but when you look at the stats — they didn’t have a shot on target today, which is pleasing from a defensive point of view.

“We created enough chances to take one, a strange one in the end… It was a fine finish, it has to be said.

“But I thought the feeling of the game, we were on top for a lot of it with the ball, then we defended resolutely against a team who do play with a high tempo.

“I think the all-round feel of the performance [was the most pleasing thing] because we come off a big win against Arsenal, we don’t get the win against Liverpool — I’m learning what that means to Evertonians and to the city. 

“But I thought the focus was good in the days after that, we have to park things quickly. We’re not in a place at the minute to over-think everything. 

“We’re trying to cram a lot into the players, they’re taking a lot onboard. So to park that [derby result], put in a good week’s of training and then deliver on the Saturday, which is the main thing of course, then I’m really pleased. 

“There were a couple of outstanding performances — I thought Gana and Doucs were absolutely outstanding.”

On goalscorer Coleman, Dyche continued: “A fantastic pro that he is, he gets forward when he can, and with his experience, he makes a good decision. The finish is sublime. The way he struck it looks like a shot, and it’s a sublime finish.

“There’s no question about his professionalism and what he means to Evertonians.

“The way he goes about his business, and the way he trains; he’s still got that edge. That’s a big thing for me. You saw it today.

“Gnonto’s been playing very well for them, and he shut him down very quickly.

“He’s used to playing in this stadium, so his calmness is important as well.”

Everton climb two places to 16th in the Premier League table after the win over the Whites, with another home game — against Aston Villa — now on the horizon.

“We’re asking a lot of the players, so when we get a win like that, it just reinforces all the work they’re doing on the training ground, and hopefully, reinforcing the guidance we’re giving them to win more games,” said Dyche.

“We have to keep winning games. The last one doesn’t guarantee the next one. We’ve got six points from nine, which is important, and I think, deserved.

“We bounced back from Monday. To give that performance today was important so that we stay consistent to our values, and I think there was a good show of that today.”

Amadou Onana limped off in the 74th minute of the contest, but boss Dyche later revealed he hopes the Belgian only suffered a minor problem.

“I’ll wait and see but I don’t think it’s too serious,” he added. “He just had a niggly knee injury that we have to stay on top of.”