Paul Tait reserved praise for the gargantuan performances of defensive pair Elliot Richards and Michael Collins after Everton Under-18s started the new year on a winning note.
The young Blues triumphed 2-1 at fellow high-flyers Derby County, after prolific pair Anthony Gordon and Manasse Mampala both picked up where they left off in 2017 to fire Tait’s team into a 2-0 half-time lead.
Irish midfielder Jason Knight halved the hosts' deficit five minutes after the break, but Everton battened down the hatches to resist a Derby onslaught and secure a fifth successive Under-18 Premier League victory.