Don Huchison and Steve Nichol: Goodison Park is the only thing that can save Everton from relegation
Everton are an “awful” and “fragile” team but have a chance of staying up thanks to Goodison Park and the fans, say Don Hutchison and Steve Nicol.
Relegation fears have ramped up severely thanks to the dreadful showing the Toffees provided in the 5-0 defeat at Tottenham last night (Monday 7 March).
Their away form has been awful this season, and with the club sitting just a point above the relegation zone, the pundits think the only advantage they have over the sides around them is their home stadium and support.
Speaking on ESPN FC after the game last night, former Toffee Hutchison said: “I was thinking about 1998 when I played for Everton, and we survived on the last day of the season on goal difference.
“We had good characters like Richard Gough, Dave Watson, Duncan Ferguson, Nick Barmby… we weren’t the best side in the world but we had bottle and character.
“I give [this side] a boxer’s chance at Goodison, because away from home forget it, it’s a fragile team, it’s an awful team, one of the worst I’ve seen.
“I’m pinning all my hopes on Everton at Goodison with the fans.”
Ex-Liverpool star Nicol went further, saying: “This is about guts, and fight, and spirit.
“I agree with Don, this is about Goodison Park, because of all the sides that could go down, they don’t have a Goodison Park.
“Goodison’s an intimidating place, and the pitch is smaller, and that’s why they’ll be able to defend better.”
Last chance
Leeds and Newcastle fans in particular might beg to differ in terms of what Everton have behind them but there can be no arguing that without the Toffees support this team has no chance.
Frank Lampard’s side have a daunting run in that sees them face five of the top six.
They have home games against Wolves and Newcastle up next and the pressure could scarcely be higher on those two fixtures, to get valuable points.
Barring a change of form out of nowhere, the chances of them picking up anything on the road currently is minute, so the two pundits are right, it is all on the home form.
Lampard has coached spirited wins over Brentford in the FA Cup and Leeds in the league at Goodison, as well as a cruel defeat to first-placed Manchester City, so there is still hope it can be done.
Considering the 1-0 loss to Pep Guardiola’s title-chasers there will be an outside chance they can disrupt visiting Manchester United and Chelsea.
But they will have to improve in just about every aspect after an awful night in London, and if they don’t get much from the next two games, morale is likely to be rock bottom.
In other Everton news, Phil McNulty excused a single player as he tore the team apart from their “gutless” display at Spurs.
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