Everton boss Sean Dyche was delighted with his players after their 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest.

Idrissa Gana Gueye and Dwight McNeil struck the goals for the Toffees on Sunday.

Dyche told evertontv: “The noise changes very quickly because of the result on Monday - and rightly so because it's a really poor performance. I hold my hands up, the team hold their hands up.

“We spoke as a group on how we could affect it, and then you win two out of three. We've kept two clean sheets out of three games - two home games as well, and it's that weird predicament that this club's been in for a long time. The highs, lows, ups, downs.

“We should be on 38 points, by the way, and mathematically safe. That shows progress with five to go. We're not [mathematically safe] but we just took another important step forward. There's still work to be done and I've never gotten away from that.

“Each step that we make is only a step and there are lots more steps to make this season."

He added: “Gana - he knows how to play here, and he's used it. Andre is getting back to full fitness. We know he deals with the ball well.

“Jimmy (Garner) did well when we came on, so I was very pleased with the group. [Ashley Young] was strong, dealing with their threat of (Callum) Hudson-Odoi, who's having a decent season, and I thought he was very strong one v one.

“The shape was good, the energy was good, but also the fight and commitment. Coming off Monday, to have the fight and commitment to win, is a very important factor, I think."