Sean Dyche said Everton's home crowd gave his players a 'feel-good factor' that was crucial to the 1-0 win over Arsenal.
The new Blues boss spoke of his appreciation for the headstart he believes they gave him by creating a passionate atmosphere despite the struggles of the club on the pitch and the issues surrounding it off the pitch. Demonstrations against the board took place before and after the match but for the full 90 minutes Goodison Park was a furnace.
Supporters applauded the home players off the pitch at half-time and provided the soundtrack to the display that saw Everton hold off the Premier League leaders until the final whistle. They also gave Dyche an impressive welcome as he emerged from the tunnel to take the side for the first time.
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Praising the supporters after the match, Dyche said: "I thought the fans were terrific, they gave us an immediate starting point, and I know the players and myself have to earn that but they have given us a starting point without the ball having even been rolling. I think that is an important factor, the feel-good factor - them creating it and us joining in with it - so I think that was important.
"And then the performance was built on the belief in the base, as I call it, that the team in my way of working have to have - the belief in each other, the respect in each other, the teamship, and then that galvanised with the tactics. With the quality here I think we can still provide more quality at times, but that grows with confidence. It always starts with the minimum requirement being maximum effort. And that was definitely maximum effort today."
Dyche hinted he was aware of the discontent in the direction of the club and its management from sections of the Everton fanbase as he further praised the supporters - suggesting this was something he would seek to understand.
He added: "I thought [Goodison Park] was rocking today. I thought that was a great appreciation for the fans to give us a start and that is all I asked for, I said can you help us out, can you give us a start, give us a breather as I called it because I am aware there is a lot of noise around here and I have got to learn about that.
"I don't know all the depth of it but I have got to learn about that and I will. I respect fans and I respect their views but while those views are there can they just ease them aside and remember their belief in Everton as a football club and the heartbeat that has been here for many, many years."
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