Sean Dyche was speaking following Everton’s win over Stoke City on Saturday afternoon

Sean Dyche has explained why he was delighted to see six minutes added on at the end of Everton’s game against Stoke City on Saturday.

The Blues continued their preparations for the new Premier League season with a hard-fought 1-0 friendly victory at the bet365 Stadium. However, it was far from an easy outing for Dyche’s side, who were largely second-best during the first half.

However, Amadou Onana’s goal deep into stoppage time was enough to help the Blues return to winning ways after Tuesday’s goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers. The midfielder pounced from close range in the 96th minute after James Tarkowski had headed Alex Iwobi’s cross into his path.

But just minutes before the Belgium international broke the deadlock, eyebrows were raised when fourth official Will Finnie indicated that there would be six additional minutes. However, the move was in line with the major clampdown on time wasting, which will see World Cup-style stoppage time brought into English football this season.

Dyche, however, welcomed the six additional minutes, as he believes it enabled his side to get a taste of what it is going to be like this season.

“In the second half, we were much better; we were much sharper with the intensity of our play and our pressing,” he told evertontv.

“The players sometimes come into these games slightly more fatigued than they would be for a league game, for obvious reasons, because we are pushing them.

“In the second half, we stepped up, and we were stronger physically and with our play as well. I was pleased with the second half, but the first half was a reminder that you have to be on it all the time.

“I was screaming at them at the end to keep pressing, keep playing because we want that extra fitness because games are probably going to be longer this year.

“We all know that, with the board going up with more minutes on, I was pleased in a strange way to see it go up with six because that’ll become the norm.

“Therefore, it’s important the players stay on it and stay focused, which they did. We need players physically ready, but of course, it’s also about having that edge to win games, and I thought they carried it all the way through and nicked a strange goal, actually, but overall, I thought we just about edged it, particularly in the second half. I was pleased with the mentality overall.”