Toffees' overdue victory is music to Dyche's ears

EVERTON manager Sean Dyche celebrated a first nervy Premier Leaqgue victory this year by watching Swedish punk rockers The Hives in concert.

- John Richardson

The music-loving Toffees Jarrad manager, who has been spotted in the odd mosh pit, could have done with taking his precocious central defender Branthwaite with him for extra security amidst the bedlam at the Manchester Academy.

After all, the 21-year-old, who was called into Gareth Southgate's England squad for friendlies against Brazil and Belgium last month, had been the shining beacon of defiance whenever Dyche's former club threatened Jordan Pickford's goal at Goodison Park.

When a former international defender of Vincent Kompany's class gushes praise on a young player like Branthwaite, you have to listen.