Sean Dyche wants Everton’s clash with Chelsea to be the club’s ‘restart’ to improved form after the announcement of a second points deduction.
Everton were this week deducted two further points for a second breach of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules, taking their total sanctions to eight points so far this season.
The Toffees have dropped to 16th in the table and are now just two points above the Premier League’s relegation places, ahead Monday’s trip to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Everton won four consecutive Premier League games after the announcement of their first points deduction, when the Blues were deducted 10 points (later reduced to six on appeal) in November.
Dyche is hopeful that the second sanctions can lead to another show of unity and togetherness from his squad.
“The front-foot feel is an old adage but a fair one. Last time we got a knock, everyone pulled together for the club and that’s what we’ve got to remind ourselves,” he said at his pre-match press conference.
“The fans are terrific, they rallied around us and it was a reminder that the badge is more important than anything and we all still feel the same. Myself, the players, the staff, the fans – we are all pulling together to look after each other and our club.
“Chelsea is our restart. We’re reacting to the news, that’s important but it has to be a positive reaction, get on the front foot and react to the challenge in front of us. We did that last time, we changed the story after a tough run and we’ve got to build on that.
“The time for fault and blame is gone. Society now wants fault and blame for everything now but we’ve got to park it. What’s done is done. We’ve got to stay in line, stay connected and we’ve taken a few knocks, but we’ve got to pull together.
“I’ve never made an excuse since I’ve been here, never will do, but when our fans travel and get behind us, we’ll be working towards that goal together.
“You’ve got to believe that you can win every game. It’s not that easy but there’s no rule that you can’t. Your mindset has to be that you can.
“Over the season we have been playing well and I do believe that over time that’ll pay us back, we’ve just got to continue the work and put it in when the whistle blows.”
Dyche admits Everton’s plans beyond this season are ‘out of his hands’ given the uncertainty surrounding the club’s takeover and Premier League status.
Asked whether the club will need to sell players in the summer, he added: “The clarity is there for now. It’s about the job in hand. The next steps, the bigger picture? That’s a different picture, I can’t control that.
“For now, we know where we’re at and we know what we’ve got to do. That’s my focus and hopefully that’s the same for all the fans, players, staff.
“The bigger picture stuff is out of my hands and will be taken care of in due course.”
