'No-one cared about Everton' - Sean Dyche gives blunt verdict on Premier League relegation battle

Sean Dyche said he had no preference who wins the fight for Premier League survival before adding: “No-one cared about Everton.”

The Blues boss declined the opportunity to experiment at Luton Town on Friday after last week’s hat-trick of wins lifted the club to safety with three games to spare. Instead he strengthened his line-up for the trip to Kenilworth Road, bringing in Dominic Calvert-Lewin to take on a side battling against the drop.

And despite ties with other strugglers Nottingham Forest and Burnley, he was clear this stemmed from a belief those clubs had to look after themselves and not for favours from elsewhere.

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The survival push provided Dyche with the chance to try something different at Luton, but with Beto back available and Youssef Chermiti having impressed last week, it was still Calvert-Lewin who got the nod. Lewis Dobbin stayed on the bench and fellow youngster Lewis Warrington travelled with the team but was not included as the manager approached this game looking for another win - saying after the match that he was “greedy”.

Asked after the final whistle whether he had a preference over who stayed up, Dyche said: “No-one cared about us at Everton when we were down there last season, so they will have to fight it out. We had to fight it out last season and take care of ourselves, all the clubs will have to fight it out. We took care of ourselves again this season with many challenges and I am very proud of that, but it is not for choosing ifs, buts and maybes and sides - I have been down there myself and you have to take care of