What Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has admitted has really impressed him when watching Everton

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Everton are in action for the first time since the turn of the year when they make the trip south to face Bournemouth on Saturday.

Sean Dyche’s side will be looking for three points for the first time since early December when they emphatically beat Wolves.

Despite picking up consecutive draws against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, Everton tasted defeat last time out.

Everton’s players remain supportive of Dyche despite the 53-year-old’s position being under speculation.

There have been some issues for the Toffees, with Dyche’s side only sitting two points above the relegation zone.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
14	Man UtdManchester United	19	6	4	9	21	26	-5	22
15	Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace	19	4	8	7	20	27	-7	20
16	EvertonEverton	18	3	8	7	15	24	-9	17
17	WolvesWolves	19	4	4	11	31	42	-11	16
18	IpswichIpswich	19	3	6	10	18	33	-15	15

However, ahead of the game on Saturday, Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola has been really impressed with something specifically from Everton.

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Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola praises Everton’s defensive work

The Friedkin Group have been impressed by Everton’s work behind the scenes since completing their takeover.

But it is not just the new Everton owners who are seeing plenty of positives on Merseyside.

Speaking in his press conference on Friday, Bournemouth’s Iraola admitted he was impressed by Everton’s defensive work.

“I think they are a dangerous team, not because of that game, that also adds a little bit more, but because they’ve played this month against City, Arsenal, Chelsea, they haven’t lost,” he told the Bournemouth Echo.

“I think they have seven clean sheets. You see the goals they conceded the last 13, 14 games and is less than one goal a game.

“That is in a Premier League is very, very difficult to achieve. So we know it’s going to be difficult. We will have to be clinical because they don’t normally give you a lot of chances.

“So every game we’ve played against them has been very fouled, we haven’t been really comfortable, even if we’ve, I think, won the last two. But we have to be ready to win the duels, to be tactically very disciplined.”

The Friedkin Group could sack Dyche if the results do get worse as Everton sit so closely to the relegation zone.

But it seems as if there are plenty of people outside of the club who are impressed with the work the 53-year-old is doing.

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Everton’s defensive record has been seriously impressive

Although the Toffees have been in fine form defensively this season, the Friedkins are eyeing a new left-back, but it is not seen as a priority.

The defeat on the weekend against Forest was a frustrating one for the Toffees who saw their defensive record slip.

Since their away defeat against Manchester United last month, Everton had gone on a four-game run having only conceding one goal against Manchester City.

And considering how poor their form has been in front of goal, it has been crucial Dyche’s defensive has held strong.

The Cherries have been in fine form this season and Everton will be all too aware of the dangers they can cause following the previous meeting earlier in the season.