Everton will need more ugly wins like Saturday’s if they are to break the top six

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Marco Silva has given Everton’s attack a makeover since taking over from the insipid Sam Allardyce and made the Toffees entertaining to watch again.

The artistry of Andre Gomes and Gylfi Sigurdsson married with the pace of Richarlison has transformed Everton’s frontline and endured they are capable of blowing teams away.

That has given the club genuine aspirations of reaching the top six but if they are to make that a reality, sometimes they will need to trade stardust for steel.

The 1-0 win over Cardiff on Saturday was a prime example; they stayed patient, took their chance when it came and won narrowly.

Victories in that manner are the kind most sides need if they are to achieve anything of substance over the course of the season and offer Silva a blueprint for success.

As it stands, Manchester United are the most likely side Everton can usurp to break into the top six and the Toffees can steel a march on Jose Mourinho’s side by offering up that consistency of results even when the goals don’t fly in.

Silva has a reputation as an entertaining manager but the work he has done with Everton’s defence underlines his ability to stiffen up a side; he will need more of that if this promising start to the season is to blossom into a genuine year of success.