Sean Dyche has been crowned Premier League Manager of the Month for April after picking up his side following a huge setback at Chelsea to collect the points needed to guarantee top-flight safety with three games to spare.
Dyche’s side collected 13 points from a possible 18, nine of them gained in a pivotal week of three consecutive home victories that began with a vital 2-0 triumph over rivals at the bottom, Nottingham Forest.
The pick of the performances was an impressive win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby that put paid to the Reds’ title ambitions before and Brentford were beaten 1-0, a result that ensured the Toffees will be play Premier League football again next season.
Dyche, who beat Arsenal boss Mike Arteta and Pep Guariola of Manchester City to the award is the first Everton manager to be named Manager of the Month since Carlo Ancelotti in September 2020 but he had received the accolade twice during his time at Burnley.
He does so this time despite overseeing a 6-0 defeat at Chelsea in mid-April that could have been the catalyst for the Blues to spiral into further chaos and drop into the bottom three but they responded superbly under the manager.
“I’m very pleased, obviously on behalf of firstly myself, but of my staff and the players, and the fans who have played their part,” Dyche said.
“It was a really good run, very pleasing and a tough month of fixtures, especially with one outstanding fixture which didn’t go our way, of course.
“But I think the way the way we performed generally as a group has been very pleasing.”