Sean Dyche warns Everton players they cannot afford to ‘go under’ again after Newcastle drubbing

Sean Dyche says his Everton players cannot continue to ‘go under’ like they did during a second-half collapse against Newcastle, with their Premier League status now in grave danger.

The Toffees are two points from safety in 19th position after a 4-1 defeat in which they trailed by one at the break, only for the visitors to score three times in the space of nine minutes late in the second half.

Dyche said: ‘In the first half we were as strong as we’ve been. We started the second half brightly but went under too easily after the second goal. We can’t respond like that, especially against good sides.

‘The second goal is really poor defensively and then it’s how quickly the game gets away. It happened against Fulham (1-3) and happened again here. It’s a correction that needs to be made. They are working hard to change it in the right direction.’

Everton have not scored more than one goal at Goodison Park since October and Dyche was prickly when pressed on the team’s lack of threat.

Sean Dyche says his Everton side cannot ‘go under’ like they did at home to Newcastle again

The Toffees conceded three late goals in a heavy 4-1 defeat at Goodison Park on Thursday

Dyche believes his players ‘went under’ after conceding the Magpies’ second goal in the game

‘I might be wrong, but I think that’s been going on for two years,’ he said. ‘I didn’t say they would all get 30 goals (when I arrived), I just think they’re better players than what people thought they were.

‘It was well documented when I got here that they weren’t scoring goals and were conceding too many. We corrected it somewhat, but it has to correct a lot further, quite obviously. Your best form of defence is often attack. But we’re not finding those big moments. You could see that freedom from Newcastle.’

Everton travel to third-from-bottom Leicester on Monday, and Dyche said: ‘They’re all big games, they have been since I got here. But we have to park this one very quickly.’

Newcastle, meanwhile, are eight points clear of fifth position after a seventh win in eight matches. Eddie Howe rested Alexander Isak after he scored twice during Sunday’s 5-1 win over Tottenham. Callum Wilson came in and responded by netting a double himself.

Howe said: ’It’s a dream scenario. Both players know they can’t afford a bad game. It’s healthy competition, they are breathing down each other’s necks. But they understand how good each other’s strengths are and there is respect.’

Isak came from the bench to produce a stupendous assist for Jacob Murphy after dribbling by a string of blue jerseys.

Everton now find themselves two points from safety in 19th position with five games to play

Howe added: ‘I couldn’t really see what was happening. I have seen it back on the telly and the amount of turns and twists and step-overs he did, it’s an incredible piece of skill. He has incredible ball manipulation.’

Of Newcastle’s Champions League aspirations, Howe said: ‘I think it is just a case of onto the next game. The end table will tell us where we are and what we have next season, but for now we are just focusing on the next game.

‘It’s a waste of time getting your calculator out, but if you (reporters) want to do that, that’s fine.’