'Personally...' - Sean Dyche makes highly controversial claim after Aston Villa 3-2 Everton

The Toffees threw away a 2-0 lead for a second successive Premier League matchday, ending on the losing side of a five-goal thriller under the lights at Villa Park.

Everton didn’t seem to learn anything from their 3-2 defeat to AFC Bournemouth before the international break, a game in which Dyche’s men had a two-goal advantage right up until the 87th minute but still somehow managed to lose.

The away supporters at Villa Park were understandably frustrated by their team’s capitulation, especially as Everton only registered 26 per cent possession throughout the game. The Toffees remain rock bottom of the Premier League standings without a single point but Dyche believes his system is working.

“Personally, I thought the tactics were delivered well today,” Dyche said in the post-match press conference, raising a few eyebrows.

“We were 2-0 up and we were doing what we needed to do, slowing them down and stopping the pace of their game. Our countering worked really well.

“People talk about it a lot but people always have the answer outside of what’s happening on the pitch, the hardest thing is whilst it’s happening.

“We tried three different times to change the shape today with varying successes. We wouldn’t have even been talking tactics had we won 3-1. We tried to change the shape, tried to open the game, tried to stay tight. I was pleased with that side of things,” Dyche continued.

Most Everton fans will probably disagree with the manager’s comments due to the raw vexation at their side’s lack of consistency. It’s still only four games into the new campaign, though, and time will ultimately tell.