Rideout's first season at Goodison Park was something of a disappointment, as he managed just three goals in 24 games and was unable to break up the strike partnership of Peter Beardsley and Tony Cottee, and it was a similar story the following season (despite Beardsley's departure to Newcastle United) as he managed just 24 league appearances once again, though he did improve his goals tally to six for the 1993–94 season. It was not a good time for Everton, either, as their Premier League debut had brought them a 13th-place finish, and after going top of the Premier League by winning their first three games of the 1993–94 season, their form slumped dramatically (failing to improve after Mike Walker succeeded Howard Kendall as manager in mid season) and they only narrowly avoided relegation.