Only Manchester City can match Sean Dyche’s fast and furious Everton in one key area

Since Sean Dyche took over, Everton have scored within the first ten minutes of seven separate Premier League matches, a feat matched only by Manchester City.

Everton have struck in the opening ten minutes of a Premier League match on a greater number of occasions since Sean Dyche assumed managerial duties.

The majority of the progress his team has made has been the result of quick, aggressive beginnings, and some of the most significant outcomes he has presided over have been largely determined by the Blues’ ability to immediately dominate opponents.

Since February 1st, early leads have been a defining characteristic of this group, spanning from the sensational triumph at Brighton & Hove Albion that inspired confidence and propelled Everton to survival, to the opening goal at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Significantly, these goals have consistently empowered Dyche to establish the tempo of matches in his favour, a skill he has frequently demonstrated.

Under his leadership, Everton have scored in the opening ten minutes of five games, two of which concluded in useful draws, while the remaining five have resulted in victories. During the same time frame, only Manchester City, the current league leaders and reigning champions, have scored within the initial ten minutes of seven separate matches.

Although Newcastle United have scored three goals in the same match, they have one more than both Tottenham Hotspur, which they defeated 6-1 in April. Following Vitalii Mykolenko’s appearance in the opening seconds of two matches in the past week, the following is a summary of each of Everton’s explosive starts, along with the significance of the subsequent goals.

March 5: Demarai Gray, 10 minutes, Nottingham Forest 2-2 Everton

At the City Ground, Everton supporters were treated to their first glimpse of a dynamic start under Dyche as the Blues sought a much-needed first away victory since their October victory at Southampton. Demarai Gray converted a penalty after ten minutes, subsequent to Jonjo Shelvey’s foul on Dwight McNeil, which marked a positive beginning. In contrast to what Dyche had anticipated, the early goal failed to propel his squad into the lead during a thrilling match in which Nottingham Forest’s comeback instilled a feeling of a squandered opportunity.

March 11: Dwight McNeil, 35 seconds, Everton 1-0 Brentford

After losing two leads to Nottingham Forest, Everton required a victory the following weekend against Brentford. McNeil scored the initial of what has become three goals in the first sixty seconds of league matches under the leadership of Dyche. After only 35 seconds, the wide-out’s long-range attempt was tucked into the far corner, giving his team a lead that it would hold until the final whistle. An atmosphere at Goodison Park that had been startled by relegation rivals Bournemouth’s upset of Liverpool in the weekend’s early kick-off, thereby forcing Everton into the bottom three, was rejuvenated by the early goal. Everton were 15th at the conclusion of the match, having secured three victories in seven, and were two points away from 12th, leaving them to ponder whether a battle for survival could be averted.

May 8: Abdoulaye Doucoure, 34 seconds, Brighton 1-5 Everton

Following the previous week’s crucial stalemate at Leicester City, Everton maintained solemn authority over the club’s destiny. However, safety hinged on decisive victories, and this one was the largest of them all—both in terms of the final tally and the psychological lift it provided. The journey to the south coast was a daunting assignment for Everton, but Abdoulaye Doucoure’s opener in the opening minute set the tone for a crucial victory.

September 23: Abdoulaye Doucoure, six minutes, Brentford 1-3 Everton

Weeks after his team’s exploits at the AMEX Stadium, Doucoure also scored the game-winning goal that secured survival against Bournemouth. In September, Everton traveled to Brentford and featured him among the early scorers in their second away victory. In the opening minutes, the midfielder was a nuisance, establishing effective connections with Beto to disrupt the host team. He delivered the just recompense his team merited with a half-volley after James Tarkowski had taken down the ball. Just before halftime, Brentford equalized, but in the second half, Everton outscored the hosts to commence an impressive run in London.

October 7: James Garner, eight minutes, Everton 3-0 Bournemouth

The morale lift that the victory at Brentford provided was shattered the following week when Everton suffered a home loss to Luton Town. This outcome increased the significance of the home match against a struggling Bournemouth. James Garner, starting in his preferred central midfield position, capitalized on a Bournemouth error at the back to capture the ball and composedly open the scoring from the edge of the box as a swift start alleviated the tension inside Goodison.

November 4: Vitalii Mykolenko, seven minutes, Everton 1-1 Brighton

Everton emerged victorious against Brighton for the first time since Roberto de Zerbi’s squad visited Goodison. Once more, they were rewarded early on when Mykolenko scored in front of the Park End. Since his January 2022 signing with Everton, he had scored just once. Although his form justified his starting eleven, few were convinced by his offensive prowess. On this occasion, the left back was presented with two opportunities; he initially attempted to block Bart Verbruggen’s shot before converting the rebound with his weaker right foot after Lewis Dunk deflected a quality pass. After 80 minutes of Everton’s resistance, an even more severe deflection off Ashley Young gave Brighton a late point.

November 11: Vitalii Mykolenko, 54 seconds, Crystal Palace 2-3 Everton

At Selhurst Park, it was Mykolenko once more, this time converting a cross from Jack Harrison within the opening minute. A previous attempt by the left back was denied within the penalty area prior to the play being recycled to Harrison, whose deft cross found the left back for an additional early goal. Four minutes later, Crystal Palace equalized via Eberechi Eze’s penalty kick; this was the only goal conceded by Everton under Gary Dyche in the opening ten minutes. However, in contrast to their performance at Forest earlier in the season, Everton managed to overcome two setbacks and secure a victory on the late goal of Idrissa Gueye.