Sean Dyche has defended his substitutions in Everton’s defeat to Bournemouth.
Dyche’s changes backfired prior to the international break as his side saw a two-goal cushion disintegrate in the closing stages against their visitors.
Goal scorers Iliman Ndiaye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were both withdrawn before the Blues slipped to a 3-2 reversal at home to the South Coast outfit.
But Dyche is adamant the pair’s departures were not the main reason for the quickfire collapse against the Cherries, with two goals arriving in added time.
He said: “We were monitoring the game with the subs that I made.
“Ili had put a tremendous shift in and he hadn’t played that much football.
“He played in the week and he was cramping up and [we thought] ‘can you keep seeing the game through?’
“Dom, we’ve been careful with for a long time, using him as many minutes as we can but still monitoring to make sure he doesn’t get injured again because we know his injury history, even though he’s had a strong pre-season.
“There was a lot of comments about my substitutions but I think I’m in good company because Pep Guardiola makes less than me and he ain’t bad, he does alright.
“I’m not remotely putting myself in his category by the way, before people write that story – because they do.
“I’m just suggesting that he doesn’t feel that he doesn’t have to make substitutions [and] I often do myself.
“I think the team’s out there for a reason and on this occasion it was more of a fatigue issue and being careful.
“I don’t personally put that down to why we lost against Bournemouth because I’ve watched it about 47 times and I can assure you it’s not to do with that.
“But of course people remark on that. That’s the way it goes.
“Opinions are always about substitutions. When they work, [you’re a] hero. When they don’t, zero.. That’s the business we’re in.”