“A home defeat to Brentford is exactly the kind of result that appears on the record of a relegated club come May,” notes Gary Naylor. “So does Sean Dyche adopt his signature caution to avoid that, or does he see the match as an opportunity to lift the team and the fans before the Christmas fixtures, and go expansive? Frankly, sneaking a 1-0 with a deflected Michael Keane header from an 88th-minute corner would do me right now. Though I suspect I’m in a minority amongst Bluenoses.”

This is the only photograph I’ve had through from Goodison Park today. I reckon that’s an expansive smile.

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