Sean Dyche was delighted with the “fight and commitment” on display from his Everton players in Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park.

The win represented a second victory in three games for the Toffees, who produced a determined performance to bounce back a disappointing defeat at Chelsea on Monday.

Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil provided the long-range goals for the Blues, who now sit five points above the bottom three in the Premier League.

Reacting after the game, Dyche says the winning result was an “important step forward” as he explained to evertontv: “The noise changes very quickly because of the result on Monday - and rightly so because it’s a really poor performance. I hold my hands up, the team hold their hands up.

“We spoke as a group on how we could affect it, and then you win two out of three. We’ve kept two clean sheets out of three games - two home games as well, and it’s that weird predicament that this club’s been in for a long time. The highs, lows, ups, downs.

“We should be on 38 points, by the way, and mathematically safe. That shows progress with five to go. We’re not [mathematically safe] but we just took another important step forward. There’s still work to be done and I’ve never gotten away from that.

“Each step that we make is only a step and there are lots more steps to make this season.”

An improved showing was evident from Everton, whose starting line-up contained four changes from the loss at Stamford Bridge.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin - absent through injury last time out - was named in the starting XI, along with Gana, Andre Gomes, and Jack Harrison.

On the alterations to his side, Dyche commended the performances of midfield duo Gana and Gomes and was keen to praise the team’s effort and mentality in the win.

“Gana - he knows how to play here, and he’s used it. Andre is getting back to full fitness. We know he deals with the ball well.

“Jimmy (Garner) did well when we came on, so I was very pleased with the group. [Ashley Young] was strong, dealing with their threat of (Callum) Hudson-Odoi, who’s having a decent season, and I thought he was very strong one v one.

“The shape was good, the energy was good, but also the fight and commitment. Coming off Monday, to have the fight and commitment to win, is a very important factor, I think.”

Boosting the Blues’ performance throughout, the Evertonian support continues to play an important role, says Dyche, who added: “They ask for the truth, and I said in the week that I gave them the truth. All I can ask is the truth of them back. They supplied that today, so we have to keep going. We have to keep working really hard to keep changing the narrative.

“There are going to be knocks, but all we can do is give everything we’ve got and give our best - and also with quality, as well, which was on show with two quality and really important goals today. But also, the fight and the willingness to make sure we look after the shirt and the fans, and I’m pleased for that.”

The Everton manager provided an update on Beto, who suffered a worrying head injury during stoppage-time of the second half after colliding with Morgan Gibbs-White. The forward was stretchered off the field following several minutes of treatment.

Dyche said: “The early signs are good. So far, it’s really positive and we’ve spoken to the medical team. They said he’s coherent, he came around, and he was aware of everything, which is often a good early sign.

“The right people were on the spot, so fair play to the medical team for doing their job’s responsibly and acting very quickly.”