Sean Dyche bemoans ‘soft’ Everton players after Isak’s stupendous assist in Newcastle win

Sean Dyche bemoans his ‘soft’ Everton players after Alexander Isak’s stupendous assist in the 4-1 win for Newcastle on Thursday.

Eddie Howe’s side made a big step towards Champions League football for next season after a humiliating defeat of Everton, who remains rooted in Premier League‘s drop zone.

A win at Goodison Park keep Newcastle in third, and on course for Europe’s elite club competition, eight points ahead of Aston Villa, who are in fifth but still have a game to play.

Another dramatic Matchweek = Completed ✅ pic.twitter.com/MGK7INW3Il

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 28, 2023

Callum Wilson scored two goals for the visitors, one in each half in Merseyside, and was the first to react and poke in the opening goal before curling an incredible 25-yard effort up into the top corner.

Joelinton netted either side of Wilson’s goals, heading in from close range following excellent play by Joe Willock.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin thought he had made it 1-1 for the Toffees just as the first half was coming to an end, but a delightful dinked finish was ruled out for offside.

Dwight McNeil did get one back for his side, with a goal that went directly in from a corner kick, but substitute Jacob Murphy added a Newcastle fourth just a minute later to hand Everton their a 17th defeat of the campaign, which leaves them in 19th place and two points from safety.

But much of the talk following the game is about Isak’s astonishing run leading to Murphy scoring, just ave a look at the video below…

Stop what you’re doing and watch this Alexander Isak dribble 🤤 pic.twitter.com/Kdq8E09fzo

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 27, 2023

Alexander Isak, PLEASE 😰🤩 pic.twitter.com/qU8XURO33F

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 27, 2023

Everton boss Sean Dyche, speaking to BBC Sport: “We were excellent first half in the sense of taking on the game. The final moment has been a challenge all season and we conceded a soft goal.

“The game changed on their second goal and that is what we have to change. 2-0 is difficult but you are still in it and our reaction to that was so soft.

“I reminded the players, they had done a great job there. The journey is there, to change the feeling around. The fans have been brilliant. I’d take a large part of the first half performance but when the second goal went in I can’t take that sort of performance. The basics went out of the window.

“They have spent well, we know that but they have created an atmosphere around what they do.

“It feels like it did when I got here. It feels the same. It is the reality of the challenge when I took over, it is still there and we have to correct it.

“It is about us, we have to correct the mistakes we have made in the last few weeks. We can all talk the talk but it is about walking the walk.

“The fans have been terrific. Our performances are nothing to do with them it is to do with us and that is what we have to correct.”

Dyche, speaking to BT Sport: “We took the game on and I thought in the first half we had been as strong as we have been.

“We went under too easily after the second goal. You can’t against good sides like Newcastle.

“I thought it was a very strong first half performance. We kept them to not many chances but they are a good outfit and they kept going and got a second goal and the reaction to that was not good enough.

“We are not finding the big moments in the final third. It is still a work in progress. Wilson whacks one in the corner, no thought, they are just playing with freedom and we need to find that freedom.

“We have to park this one quickly and clear our minds going into the next one.”

“We’re not finding them big moments, it’s still a work in progress.”

Sean Dyche gives his thoughts on Everton’s 4-1 defeat to Newcastle 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/pydbDb5jjZ

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 27, 2023

Sean Dyche’s #EVENEW reaction: pic.twitter.com/zT3XUdbZ9m

— Everton (@Everton) April 27, 2023

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Sport: “A return to goalscoring ways in the last couple of games which is great to see.

“First half was not perfect but second half was very good, we scored some very good goals.

“We knew there would be an aerial challenge for us and I felt we dealt with that very well.

“Second half we really put our foot to the floor and showed what we are capable of.

“It is great to see. Callum was excellent today. The second goal was spectacular. It was great to Alex come on and do well as well.”

On Isak’s bit of skill for the fourth goal: “I couldn’t really see what was happening! I have seen it back on the telly and the amount of turns and twists and stepovers he did, an incredible piece of skill. He has incredible ball manipulation.”

Top four pretty much there? “I think it is just a case of onto the next game. The end table will tell us where we are and what we have next season but for now we are just focusing on the next game.

“We have returned to form in a really good way.”

Newcastle’s Callum Wilson, speaking to BT Sport: “I have a good record against these!

“Isak is a top player, you want to play with good players all the time. Unfortunately we play the same position a lot of the time but it is a good partnership and hopefully we get more minutes together.”

On the top four: “It is getting closer. The games are running out and we are picking up points so we are going in the right direction.”

Twitter users had their say as Sean Dyche bemoans his ‘soft’ Everton players after Isak’s stupendous assist in the win for Newcastle…

@MarcoJRicci: I didn’t think Willock’s set up for Isak’s first against Spurs could be beaten as assist of the season. And then this happened 👀👀👀

@Rjdhd90: Arsenal really could of got him. Let’s respect what Newcastle are doing everyone thought they would fall off rn. Going to Everton away and scoring 4 is crazy 👏👏👏

@TheWillRoss: Nah your 6ft4 number 9 shouldn’t be able to dribble down the touch line into the box like prime Neymar, this blokes a cheat code

@Weildy9: Thierry Henry esk that, what a player 👏👏🤯🤯

@shahid_taj: I can’t think of a better run by anyone in the premier league? Wow unbelievable run

@tynetakes: But he’s a flop.. but he won’t be able to cut it in the champions league…

@Owene2220: Nah thats just world class no other way to describe it just quality.

@jcRFC_: How can someone of that size do that?

@SteveMcKenna_: Sends half the Everton players back to Burnley

@paul8787x: Isak is class and just think how many games he’s missed this season too

@KevinWHU94: Hope Everton go down 😂👍🏻

@GeneralEFC: Everton fan here. I like Isak he looks like a top player but please my Grandad could skip past Keane and Godfrey and he’s been in an urn for 7 years.

@johnm24119432: Big SAFC fan here, I have to say that run by Isak was just brilliant. You don’t see dribbling like that anymore, it’s old school. What a player you have, and your team are doing fantastic.

@Tanz1123: If Messi does that it’s on the front & back page of every news paper

@Aquinn1892: he’s actually so good it’s unbelievable

@craigt2801: Thierry Henry esque that run. Yes I know he might not reach that level but what a player

@barnznocap: I think we’ve just found the greatest Premier League assist of all time 🥶

@bl4h_nufc: What an absolute animal … he is brilliant 👏🏼👏🏼😍😍