Everton boss Frank Lampard insists that Sean Dyche’s departure from Burnley does not affect him or his side in their quest to avoid relegation.
The Clarets took the surprise decision to sack boss Dyche after ten years in charge on Friday morning, with Burnley’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation looking slim in what is their sixth consecutive season in England’s top-flight.
Burnley, who are currently being managed by caretaker boss Mike Jackson, sit 18th in the table and three points behind 17th placed Everton, who have played a game fewer.
Prior to Dyche’s exit, he did make a pointed remark about the Toffees when Burnley came from behind to beat Everton 3-2 at Turf Moor in a relegation six-pointer on April 6.
Two Richarlison penalties gave Everton a 2-1 lead before half-time that night, following Nathan Collins’ opener. Second half goals from Jay Rodriguez and Maxwel Cornet did however lead to the Clarets picking up three vital points.
After that win, Dyche revealed what he said to his Burnley players at half-time to inspire the comeback, which in itself was a dig at the form Everton had been on away from home this season.
"I've been down there, I know what it's like and every season there have been tough patches for us,” Dyche told Sky Sports.
“It's hard to explain, but sometimes you sense that a team might have lost how to win a game. I said to them at half time 'I'm not sure these know how to win a game, away from home particularly'.”
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Just over a week after making those comments, Dyche was relieved of his duties as Burnley’s manager, a major call with the final games of the season and the relegation fight approaching.
Ahead of Everton’s meeting with Leicester City on Wednesday night, Lampard was asked in his pre-match conference for his thoughts on Dyche’s dismissal and how that affects Everton and the relegation battle.
Despite the recent comments on Everton from Dyche, Lampard responded: “Dyche has been an incredible manager at the club. They have decided to make a change and he deserves a rest. I wish Sean all the best. It doesn't affect Everton. This doesn't change anything for us."
Everton would move six points clear of the relegation zone on Wednesday night if they were to beat the Foxes at Goodison Park and to within two points of 16th-placed Leeds United.
Burnley are in action on Thursday at home to Southampton and would close their three-point deficit on Everton if they picked up a better result than the Toffees do in midweek.
Since Lampard’s arrival at Everton on January 31, they have picked up just nine points from a possible 30, all of which have come on home soil. Only Watford (eight) and Norwich City (five) have earned fewer points in that time.
