Everton have drawn 0-0 with Chelsea in the Premier League to move four points clear of the relegation zone.
The Toffees were in action for the first time since being taken over by The Friedkin Group earlier this week – and a resolute display saw Everton hold the Premier League title hopefuls.
Everton had drew 0-0 with Arsenal the weekend before and ahead of this game, Sean Dyche had called for his players to produce a similar kind of display.
And that’s what we saw, with Chelsea dominating the ball and having more chances.
That said, Everton could easily have nicked it, with Iliman Ndiaye, Jack Harrison and Orel Mangala all having opportunities.
That is now the fourth 0-0 draw in the last six games for Everton and some fans – especially from Chelsea – are predictably criticising Dyche.
But James Tarkowski has hailed the Everton manager in the aftermath of the game.
James Tarkowski insists Everton ‘have built something special’ under Sean Dyche
Everton were big underdogs heading into the game with Chelsea.
The Blues have been brilliant this season under Enzo Maresca, so it was always going to be a case of Everton having to defend well at Goodison.
It was all Chelsea in the first-half, but Everton did come into the game in the second-haf and there’ll be frustrationS for a lot of people about the lack of a cutting edge in the final third.
For now, though, James Tarkowski is at least focusing on the positive result.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We had a tough game away at Arsenal last week, but today I thought we would get chances and in the second half we did.
Another clean sheet on the board and we are building at the minute. We’re stopping top teams from scoring against us.
“I am proud of the way we worked today against a top, top side – a good point.
“They have got some good players, especially Cole Palmer, who we kept quiet.
“Under this manager [Sean Dyche] we have built something special. Defensively we have been good under the period that he’s been here.”
The solidity today didn’t go unnoticed by the opposition manager, with Maresca praising Everton as one of the top defensive sides in the world after the game.
