'I'll make it clear' - Sean Dyche makes Frank Lampard…

'I'll make it clear' - Sean Dyche makes Frank Lampard admission after first Everton win against Arsenal

Everton manager Sean Dyche has credited his players for their performance in the 1-0 win over Arsenal.

The Blues picked up their first win under the new era and ended a winless run that stretched back to October. James Tarkowski opened his account in front of the Gwladys Street End to secure a crucial three points against the league leaders.

Mikel Arteta's side saw their unbeaten run, dating back to September, come to a frustrating end as a rejuvenated Everton side put on a classic performance for the 51-year-old.

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"I think it's everything they [the players] demanded, it's about the players as well, they're the focal point for me now," Dyche said speaking to BT Sport after the match.

"Very honest during the week in their assessment of where they were, honest in what they felt we could add as a collective, taken a lot on this week, condensed a lot and I thank them for that because it's not easy. The minimum requirement is maximum effort and there was certainly that today.

"It's important while we build confidence, we've been in a position that's not nice for anyone to be in, the players as well," he added. "The basic requirements never change, you've got to win your battles, your races, the commitment to the cause and it was a good feel of that. We can still improve in our play but that will come with confidence and that comes from wins usually."

The former Burnley manager was quick to dismiss any thoughts that the players are now performing following the dismissal of Frank Lampard. He continued: "I'll make it clear it's not that they weren't [playing for the badge], just needs shining up a little bit, there was commitment, you need to add to it, rebuild it sometimes.

"It's not like that they weren't, it just maybe got softened, not knocking what they were trying to do with the last manager. I've got my style of working, that's all it is, that's part of it, we want to make sure everybody knows we are committed to the cause, we are giving everything."

Tarkowski headed home at the back post after fighting through a crowded penalty area midway through the second-half. The former Clarets defender arrived at Turf Moor after catching Dyche's eye and he combined with his former teammate Dwight McNeil to score the all-important goal.

"I'm delighted for him, he's someone I've taken great joy in watching his career develop and when he got his move here I wished him well - and Dwighty [Dwight McNeil] as well, Keano [Michael Keane] will get sharper," he said.

"They at least give the players a nudge in the right direction of how things are going to be working but I'm delighted for them two, a good delivery and a good finish because set-pieces are a large part of the game."

Attention now turns to the Merseyside derby for Everton as they travel across Stanley Park to play rivals Liverpool. It now provides the new management team a full week of preparation to continue embedding their mark on the side.

But the priority after the match for Dyche was praising his side for their efforts, he reiterated: "It gives us a platform to move forward.

"The performance was key to me as the manager and the coaching staff, to put so much into the week, we've crammed a lot for them to absorb.

"But the first marker was the performance, to get a win against top of the league - they're going great - we managed to press the game pretty well, calm the game pretty well, deal with the ball better but that comes with confidence and doing the basics well. That's my style, I want them to understand the basics, we've got some good footballers."

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