David Moyes did not play down the importance of Leicester’s final league visit to Goodison Park. “Crucial,” he called a contest that could not only nudge Everton towards Premier League safety but enable the club to start planning for a better future. A team reborn under his leadership delivered.
An opening blitz that included the fastest goal ever scored at the historic old stadium destroyed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s abject visitors and secured a third successive league win for Everton under their new manager. It took Sean Dyche four months and 14 games to win three Premier League matches this season. Everton have now scored six goals from open play since the Scot returned, one fewer than the team had managed all season under Dyche.