Everton are 'onto big things' under Sean Dyche - just ask a Tottenham fan

An unfortunate defeat at Tottenham Hotspur ensured the week leading up to December 25 remained one of frustration for Evertonians but in truth this year’s ‘Blue Christmas’ came early in the best possible sense.

Back when Everton played their first fixture since we opened our advent calendars, Sean Dyche’s men had – due to a 10-point deduction, the biggest sporting sanction in the 135-year history of English top-flight football and Burnley’s 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United completely just half an hour earlier – been plunged to the bottom of the Premier League table. However, they calmly went about their task of defeating Nottingham Forest with an assured display and followed that up against Newcastle United, Chelsea and Burnley to complete a quartet of victories and clean sheets. Some of that festive cheer has subsequently been eroded by the penalty shoot-out exit to Fulham in the Carabao Cup and loss at Spurs but considering that some were predicting another bleak midwinter, surely enough presents on Blues’ wish lists have already been ticked off to compensate for disappointments come the big day.

Loyal but long-suffering Evertonians can be their own side’s harshest critics but while beaten, many believed the team were still unbowed against Ange Postecoglou’s side and remained proud of the visitors’ efforts despite being denied a fourth win in the capital this term after previous successes in west London (3-1 at Brentford), east London (1-0 at West Ham United) and south London (3-2 at Crystal Palace). Andy Gray, the Tartan Talisman of Howard Kendall’s great sides believed his former club didn’t deserve a point – they should have taken all three!

The game’s oldest major fanbase – Everton boasted the highest average