EXCLUSIVE
Everton boss Sean Dyche has played down the power of his tracksuit following the 2-0 win over Liverpool.
The Toffees won their first Merseyside derby at Goodison Park since 2010 on Wednesday night to all-but confirm their Premier League survival.
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It's now three wins in the club's last four games - and two from two since Dyche ditched wearing a suit to sport a club tracksuit instead on the touchline.
His new look has sent social media into meltdown, but the 52-year-old has declared he cannot understand the narrative that his change of appearance is the reason for Everton's brilliant form.
Speaking on the talkSPORT Breakfast show, Dyche was asked by presenter Gabby Agbonlahor about skipper James Tarkowski appearing on a reality TV show alongside his wife.
It led him to reference his new style, as he said: "That's up to him, it's the modern world, it's not something that these players will have choices [on] with the way the world is changing.
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"As you know, there's been as much noise about me wearing a tracksuit for Christ's sake. Where does that live? I have no clue where that lives.
"At the end of the day, it's like you're some tactical genius because you put a tracksuit on, I can assure you, that ain't what won us the last couple of games.
"There's a lot more to it than that, if it was just that, that would be easy, 'OK, I'll change my outfit and win games.'
"Look, it's the modern world, you have to go with the way it is, there's that much out there, there's that much content out there, these players get asked to do an enormous amount of different things and they make their choices."
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Dyche then insisted that Everton's fans have proved instrumental in the club's recent form, with their support getting them over the line against Liverpool.
He remarked: "I'm very proud of the players and the fans, because the fans stuck with us after the last couple of games.
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"After a really tough night at Chelsea, they stuck with us and I can't thank them enough, because that's an important factor, the crowd are really powerful here, especially when they're with the team."
The ex-Burnley boss continued: "The fans have been fair, they've questioned us when we've not been right, and they certainly did after the Chelsea game.
"And I get that, I have to take responsibility as manager, the players play their part as well, as a manager, the good stuff comes your way, but the bad stuff comes your way.
"That's what you've got to deal with, and I think we dealt with it well, but the main thing is for me, is the respect that the team get from the fans and vice versa.
"Because this group do care, I care, we care about the fanbase, and they paid us back massively, because the Forest game was really important.
"And they were from the first whistle really behind the team, really supportive.
"And last night was off the scale, that was like from literally the first second - even before the game - off the scale.
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"The volume and the positivity towards the team, that's a really powerful thing, and I can't thank them for it."
Next up for Everton is a clash against Brentford at Goodison Park, where victory will leapfrog them above the Bees into 15th spot.