Keith Wyness highlights Everton’s new ‘secret weapon’, it’s not Jack Grealish
Everton are yet to lose at home since moving from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of the season.
David Moyes‘ side have won three of their five games at their new ground, while drawing the other two matches.
Everton beat Brighton 2-0 in their first outing at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and have also recorded victories over Crystal Palace and Mansfield.
The Toffees sit eighth in the Premier League after seven games of the new campaign.
Everton’s new stadium is a big advantage
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the atmosphere at the Hill Dickinson is a big weapon for his old side.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that the praise has to go to the stadium’s architect, Dan Meis, who wanted to make sure that the noise could reverberate around the ground.
Everton struggled at Goodison Park in their final years there, but are still undefeated at the Hill Dickinson.
Wyness added that the club are very proud to have a new ground with such a good atmosphere.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “One thing I would say about Hill Dickinson is that the atmosphere is very good, and that is something they’re very proud to have.
“That’s something that Dan Meis, the architect, had set out to achieve. That noise is quite the weapon to have if they can get that going on a regular basis.
“It was incredibly quiet in the first half against Palace, but the noise grew, and it is evidence that the architect has got that right. So I think that’s a great sign about the new stadium.”
Oliver Glasner credits atmosphere for Everton’s win over Crystal Palace
Jack Grealish scored a last-minute winner on 5 October as Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Speaking to BBC after the game, Palace boss Oliver Glasner said: “The crowd was here, the stadium was loud and they got the confidence back and then I think it was one situation where the game was decided.”
Glasner clearly believes that the Toffees fans had a big impact on proceedings and were able to push their side towards a last-minute winner.
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