In light of Everton’s goal drought, Sean Dyche admits that Dominic Calvert-Lewin is under pressure.

But the Everton manager has reminded the rest of his goal-shy side it is not just the principle striker who needs to find the net.

Calvert-Lewin has not scored for the relegation-threatened Toffees in 19 appearances stretching back to October.

However, he is not the only Everton player struggling in front of goal with the team having struck just 27 times in 25 Premier League games this season. Only bottom two Burnley and Sheffield United have worse records.

“I think he knows where he’s at,” said Dyche of Calvert-Lewin. “There’s enough noise in football now.

“Do you think he’s thinking there’s no noise about him not scoring? I’m pretty sure he knows that.

“Whether fair or not, that’s strikers, isn’t it? That’s being a striker, that’s the reality of the role.

“But all strikers, I’m sure, want the adulation of being a striker and scoring goals.

“That’s part of the fuel that you’d have as a striker, that amazing feeling when you do score, especially at Goodison, because the crowd generally erupt.

“So I think they know the responsibility. That’s part of their role.

“Having said that, of course, it’s not just strikers’ responsibility to score goals.

“We want them to work, we want them to defend, we want them to do the hard yards for the team. So therefore we’ve got to pay that back with other people scoring.”

Conversely, in a difficult season, Dyche can take positives from his side’s strong defensive record.

EOnly the top four teams currently in the standings have allowed less goals than Verton this season—just 33.

“I’m happy with that side of things, and that’s the whole team,” Dyche stated. Though I believe we ask the players to defend from the front, and I believe they’re becoming better at it, a lot of attention is focused on specific players in the back unit.

We all know that the hardest part of the task is converting the opportunities we create into genuine finishes and goals. I believe that the tactical shape and understanding of the team have improved. Evidently, that’s still a work in progress.”

Everton will visit seventh-place Brighton on Saturday after battling their way out of the relegation zone on goal differential with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Monday.

In their fight against the drop in May of last year, Everton triumphed 5-1 at the Amex Stadium.

“That was probably a hiccup in their season at that time,” Dyche stated. Never mind, though; we made that happen.

“They are a terrific side, so it wasn’t because they weren’t playing well or a decent team.

“They’ve shown again they’re a good outfit and the home record has been very good for a number of seasons.”