Everton boss Sean Dyche found positives with their preseason win at Stoke City yesterday.

Amadou Onana struck for the 1-0 win.

“In the second half, we were much better; much sharper with the intensity of our play and our pressing," said Dyche. “The players sometimes come into these games slightly more fatigued than they would be for a league game, for obvious reasons, because we are pushing them.

"In the second half, we stepped on and we were stronger physically and with our play as well. I was pleased with the second half, but the first half was a reminder that you have to be on it all the time.

"I was screaming at them at the end to keep pressing, keep playing, because we want that extra fitness because games are probably going to be longer this year.

“We all know that, with the board going up with more minutes on, I was pleased in a strange way to see it go up with six because that'll become the norm. Therefore, it's important the players stay on it and stay focused, which they did.

“We need players physically ready, but of course, it's also about having that edge to win games and I thought they carried it all the way through and nicked a strange goal, actually, but overall, I thought we just about edged it – particularly in the second half. I was pleased with the mentality overall."