Everton boss Sean Dyche says promoted sides such as Town can’t be taken for granted ahead of the Toffees’ visit to Portman Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Merseysiders are 16th, one place and one point above the Blues having won one, drawn two and lost four of their first seven games.

On their travels, they have lost two - 4-0 at Spurs and 3-2 at Aston Villa - and drawn one, 1-1 at Leicester.

Prior to the international break, they drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle, their first Premier League clean sheet of the season, and Dyche says his side are becoming a more solid outfit.

“We’re showing signs of it – and I think more so in the last game,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“And by no means were we as good as we’ve been in other games, and there’s still work to be done in those performances.

“But we showed that resilience, keeping a clean sheet. We got a lot of the basics right to keep a good side at bay and get a result.

“If we can get the details right at both ends and perform properly and appropriately, then I believe we can win games.”

Everton are unbeaten in their last five Premier League matches against promoted clubs having won three and drawn two, while Town continue to look for their first win of the season, but Dyche won’t be taking the Blues lightly.

“You can’t take these teams for granted,” he said. “Ipswich are full of endeavour, like teams are when they come up.

“They’ve spent a small fortune – or a recognised fortune – in this level of football for a club who’ve just come up. So, they’re obviously intent on being in the division.

“There are no gimmes. I’ve spoken to bigger managers who’ve done a lot more in the game than me, and they said, ’You can’t take anything for granted. You just can’t. You have to be right in every game'.

“They did terrific last season. And brought a lot of different players in, adding to it financially, which is not easy for clubs coming up.

“I know the guys there pretty well and I think they’re good operators. They’re learning as they go. The last time out was a tough one. That can happen in the Premier League.

“But from what I’ve seen so far, they’re full of endeavour and full of belief to take it on. That’s what we’ve got to be ready for. “

Regarding injuries, he added: “First of all, [left-back Vitaliy] Mykolenko is looking good, so that's a good step in the right direction. [Right-back and club captain] Seamus [Coleman] is back in the group and he's had more or less the week [of training].

“[Centre-half] Jarrad [Branthwaite] is a bit behind them – he's been on the grass with us but he's a little bit behind them.

“We'll have to make a decision on [Branthwaite being involved against Ipswich] because he's only really had a couple of days of training with us.

“Last time he got through the game then got a minor injury but it cost him a few weeks so we've got to be careful with that one.

“We'll have to make a call, probably over the next 24 hours – but his injury is fine at the moment, it's just his training schedule [to consider].”

Midfielder Iliman Ndiaye picked up a knock while away with Senegal but is doing well, Dyche says.

“[It] settled down really quickly,” he continued. “It was one of them they had to be cautious with at first but it settled down and he was clear-minded.

“We spoke to him and he said he was clear to be involved in that second game. He's come back and he's trained today [Thursday], so we're hopeful on that one

“Patto [Nathan Patterson] is on his longer-term plan to getting back but he's looking fitter and sharper all of the time. He's not quite there yet but he's training all the time and, so far, he's coming through it clean, which is really important.”

Regarding midfielders Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner, he added: “Tim, unfortunately, has got a stress response from a bone in his foot, so he's going to be weeks, not days.

“We're disappointed because he's had a good start to the season after a good pre-season. He'll come back through it but we're not sure on the timescales.

“Jimmy is similar. He's got a back situation that we're just monitoring at the moment – it's settling down but we're not going to have anything too concrete until probably about a week or so, when we'll know more, when he responds to the treatment.”

Summer Town target Armando Broja and Youssef Chermiti remain on their way back from knocks.

“Youssef has been incredibly unlucky – probably the most unlucky out of all of them with the oddest injury,” he added. “He's making good progress now. He's on the grass with the sport science team – and so is Broja.

“[Broja] is in front of Youssef with his comeback – he will need a games programme but he's working actively now and hopefully will cross over [to work with the main group] soon.”

Photo: Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

MK1 added 16:50 - Oct 17 "These teams"? No sure I like that.
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baxterbasics added 16:51 - Oct 17 Oh feel free to take us for granted Mr Dyche. In fact this will be a walkover for your boys, I wouldn't even bother training this week.
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Dissboyitfc added 17:08 - Oct 17 Actually comes over as very condescending, I hope we do them over, however can’t take teams like them for granted!!! I am sitting on the fence here, going to say 2-2 draw.
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churchmans added 17:10 - Oct 17 Nothing condescending about it! He is refering to teams that come up! Another tough game for us! I know we will win a game but can't see where and who against! So tough this leauge
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Dissboyitfc added 17:50 - Oct 17 That’s exactly what condescending is, no need to refer to promoted teams in a different light, no easy games in this division full stop!
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victorysquad added 18:00 - Oct 17 We need to go all out on Saturday, we need to win end of. Every man, woman and child needs to bring their full voice, we are going to need every advantage we can get.
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carlo88 added 18:19 - Oct 17 Can't take stagnating dire Premier League teams who've been in the relegation zone for years for granted either.
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Generic added 18:50 - Oct 17 Well, *you* can’t…
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Woolfenthen added 18:56 - Oct 17 These teams, can't take anything for granted, no gimmes, in other words we're so much bigger than THESE TEAMS we should be rolling THESE over but no guarantees, so condescending its actually embarrassing and probably explains why Everton are where they are
4

ArnieM added 19:04 - Oct 17 I'm sure Dyche didn't mean to come one across as a condescending prick, unfortunately he's failed! I hope Town players read his comments
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chepstowblue added 19:09 - Oct 17 I've gotta say, they were impressive against Newcastle last time out. Very well organised and very powerful. It's another tough game against one of the supposedly weaker sides.....a bit like West Ham. Another abject performance like that and Everton will wipe the floor with us. If we can get back to the level of performance that we showed against Villa and Fulham then it's up for grabs. Turning draws into victories is so difficult though, and whilst the term 'must win' is 99% false, it really feels that we need 4pts from these next two home games to keep our heads above the water.

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Europablue added 19:17 - Oct 17 I'm sure Dyche was asked a question that framed his answer and that makes it come across as condescending.
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Barty added 19:19 - Oct 17 First win for town. COYB.
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Edmundo added 19:45 - Oct 17 Dyche is a Poundshop Gareth Southgate.
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SuffPunch added 20:02 - Oct 17 That's Kierans team talk written. Just show the boys that condescending opinion of "these teams"
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KMcBlue added 20:02 - Oct 17 MK1 agreed- hope we spank them
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:07 - Oct 17 another hard game, thats for sure , up until the last game i had been feeling confident we are getting better and a win was on cards, but last performance has raised doubts,We still need a couple of signings ,which wont come till January..If we can just keep ourselves out of the danger zone until then ill be happy ..
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MVBlue added 20:12 - Oct 17 Home games so important for us. Back them to the hilt seat holders, even if we go down we can come back. Roar them home
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TimmyH added 20:43 - Oct 17 Just win!...we really have to start on Saturday, in my opinion Everton are there for the taking.
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Carberry added 21:31 - Oct 17 Some people are getting a bit twitchy on here. Dyche is a good manager and a very good individual, who has managed to keep Everton in the Prem in the most difficult of circumstances. All he is doing is referring to all three promoted teams, to make sure his team is focused, they also play Southampton in a couple of weeks. We will do well to get a win against them.
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Stato added 07:10 - Oct 18 We are actually the favourites withe bookies to win this game regardless of any narrative that tries setting this up as us being the under dog
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bluebullet29l added 08:40 - Oct 18 Dyche is an idiot...always has been
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trncbluearmy added 09:09 - Oct 18 Sense a certain arrogance from their fans and management They have no idea how good ITFC can be First win of many on the way COYB
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Writtleblue added 09:40 - Oct 18 Just need Pickford to play like did in his last England game, we'll be laughing.
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OliveR16 added 09:58 - Oct 18 The only way to kill this kind of narrative is for the three promoted teams to stay up, and relatively comfortably. For all our valid excuses (we have them) we need to start winning and this game should be straightforward for us at home. Yet most of us agree we'll 'do well' to win - at home to Everton! So psychologically we're half-relegated already in our heads. Hopefully the players' heads are in a better place.

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