Sean Dyche sounds upbeat tone as Everton face challenging trip to Brighton

Late last season I remember thinking as this match approached, that it was something of the proverbial 'free-hit' for Everton even as they desperately chased points with games running out fast.

Certainly, it seemed as though other fixtures would be more critical to securing the points needed to avoid the drop against teams that the Toffees had much more chance on paper, of beating.

However, as we all know the Blues produced their best performance in a long while to trounce the Seagulls 5-1 at the Amex Stadium.

Not only were the three points a great and very unexpected boost in that relegation fight, but the result also helped the side's goal difference, which might have proved crucial.

Well, now that away trip looms again, and once more as if caught in the endless groundhog day that is this club's lot, Everton need to win a game desperately as they face another scrap to stay up.

Monday night's one-all draw against Crystal Palace wasn't enough and continued a poor run of results that means the Toffees have failed to win a match in the Premier League since the 16th December last year.

This long winless run has compounded the dreadful start to the season when Everton dropped so many points against beatable opponents at Goodison Park, eventually losing to Fulham, Wolves and Luton Town.

Add say six or seven of those points to the ten points which were deducted last November and together with others won since then, and the Blues would now be sitting pretty in mid-table.

Sean Dyche has been speaking today to the media ahead of the weekend's clash with the Seagulls and he gave an update on some injury issues as well as commenting on some players' form.

There were no new injury problems to report meaning that Andre Gomes and Arnaut Danjuma as well as Dele Alli are still out for weeks or months.

The manager also gave his opnion of the struggles of his strikers in front of goal, in particular Dominic Cavert-Lewin's long drought that has seen him fail to find the net since late October.

Dyche didn't seem unduly concerned by the centre-forward's problems, pointing out his continued all-round play was just as important and that other players need to chip in.

This is a little worrying to me. Calvert-Lewin has been hard-working and leading the line with plenty of determination, but he is primarily paid to score goals.

Everton were anemic in attack on Monday night and resorted mainly to lobbing long balls up to Calvert-Lewin, almost at times it seemed unthinkingly.

I have said on countless occasions recently that I think it is time for the manager to consider some much-needed changes to his tactics and perhaps also personnel in order to generate more attacking threat.

It really feels like this weekend's match represents an opportunity to experiment a little bit and try to find a new formula to win games of football.

Although I'm not saying it is a free-hit in the way last season's game was, I don't think many Evertonians expect a win at the Amex given current form and there are surely other much more important matches - especially at home- coming up over the next few weeks.

So, maybe Dyche could try something different along the lines I have previously suggested. At any rate he has to hit on a way to get this goal-shy side to start scoring and winning before it is too late.