'You don’t even know the half of it' - Sean Dyche explains reasoning behind Everton claim

Sean Dyche has proclaimed that keeping Everton up in the Premier League before the final month of this season tops his achievement of steering Burnley into the Europa League.

When the Blues boss guided the Clarets to European football for the first time since the 1966/67 season with a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League in 2018 – the club’s highest position since they came sixth in 1974 – a pub in the East Lancashire town was renamed ‘The Royal Dyche’ in his honour. The freehouse, previously known as ‘The Princess Royal’ retains the 52-year-old’s name with an image of him mocked up in the garb of King Henry VIII on its sign.

But he now insists that leading Everton to safety in a season in which the club has been dogged by two separate points deductions and a protracted proposed takeover that is still yet to be resolved, is even better.

Everton supporters send blunt Premier League message as Ashley Young hits back at social media jibes

James Tarkowski reveals Sean Dyche's stark four-word message to players that saved Everton's season

Asked if it tops getting Burnley into Europe, Dyche said: “Yes, because it is a different animal, a different concern, the expectation is different. The reality and expectation is out of line here in my opinion and I’ve tried to bring it back in line to say ‘we are not there, we’ve got to build to get there.’

“And it takes times and you have to take the knocks and I’ve certainly taken a few, the players have taken a few, the club has taken a few, so that is why it is my best season of work, without a doubt.”

Everton’s third home win of the week – a 1-0 victory over Brentford – ensured it is mathematically impossible for them to be relegated now and without the deductions they would