Sean Dyche calls on advice of 'soft psychologist' to solve big Everton problem

Sean Dyche is using a ‘soft psychologist’ as part of efforts to stop his players from overthinking when they bear down on goal.

The Blues have struggled to take chances for large parts of the season - including last time out against West Ham United, when just one of 11 shots on target went past Hammers keeper Alphonse Areola.

That came from Beto and was the first meaningful goal from an Everton striker since last October. It ended a run that had seen neither him nor other frontline striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit the back of the net since early December, when Beto scored the third in the 3-0 win over Newcastle United.

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Even his West Ham goal followed a missed one on one and penalty. Those - and the other opportunities that went begging - proved costly as West Ham scored twice in stoppage time to win 3-1 and extend Everton’s winless run to 10 Premier League games.

Speaking at Finch Farm ahead of his side’s trip to Manchester United, Dyche rejected the need for a specialist coach to help with finishing, an issue that was also a theme at the start of the season when Everton outplayed sides such as Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers but were punished for not being clinical. Everton have the greatest disparity in the top flight when it comes to the number of goals they have scored compared to the number of goals they have been expected to score given the quality and number of chances they have created.

Developing his thoughts on whether outside intervention might benefit his players, Dyche said: “We've got someone I call a 'soft' psychologist - someone