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I got it horribly wrong about Everton - I didn't see them making great strides

-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Premier League winner Chris Sutton has spoken of his love for Goodison Park and the importance of Everton leaving the famous ground on a high.

The striker-turned-pundit said he believed former manager Sean Dyche did a “decent enough job” given the challenges he faced in the role and praised the defence his successor David Moyes inherited.

He also admitted he had to eat humble pie after Moyes led the Blues to a triumph at Brighton and Hove Albion that he did not think was possible going into the game.

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Sutton conceded: “The result against Brighton - I did the BBC predictions, and I got that one horribly wrong, as I get most horribly wrong. That was a big victory for them, and they've just gotten well clear of the bottom four. But it's all going to be about finishing the season off at the fabulous Goodison Park.

“I used to love playing there. It's a brilliant old stadium. They’re moving, it would be good to move on a high. Are Everton going to turn a corner? I think Dyche did a decent enough job given the points deductions, embargoes and what have you. It was about surviving.

“Even this season, I didn't see them making great strides. I always felt they were going to be a bottom half team, not as low as they have been.”

Sutton said stability would be the priority and praised Jordan Pickford while adding that Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowski were “excellent centre halves”.

On the outlook for the coming months the 51-year-old, who counts Blackburn Rovers, Celtic and Norwich City among his old clubs, told Gambling Zone: “From David Moyes’ perspective, it’s about stabilising the club, keeping them in the Premier League.

"A couple of weeks ago, Everton fans were thinking we're in a relegation battle and this could be a really miserable end to the season. You don't want that for them at Goodison. It's about a strong end to the season, but then it's about the future and taking the next step in the new stadium.

“Is David Moyes going to be given a pot of gold to spend over the summer, and who can he bring in to really try and kick the club on?”