Everton: Alan Shearer and Micah Richards share relegation verdict in new Luton Town admission
Luton Town’s defeat to Bournemouth could be a “hammer blow” in the Hatters’ relegation battle with Nottingham Forest and Everton, according to Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.
Rob Edward’s side let a three-goal lead slip at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday (13 March) to lose 4-3 to the Cherries to leave themselves four points adrift of the Toffees and three away from 17th-placed Forest.
While Luton could still avoid the drop to the Championship, Richards admitted their recent habit of conceding late goals could dent their confidence as they look to drag Everton into the relegation fight.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football (15 March, 11:20) he said: “When they [Luton] went 3-0 up, you start checking the table and obviously we’ve spoken about Nottingham Forest and what’s going to happen with Everton with potential charges.
“We’ve talked about Luton giving up leads late in previous games, if you look at their last 10 fixtures, they always seem to be in games and then something happens, whether it’s a lack of concentration or just not finishing off the game.
“If you go 3-0 up, you think they’ll see this out, but then you start to think is it something that they’re doing? They’ve got to sure it up at the back now. There’s only so long they can hold on like this in the Premier League without it affecting your confidence.
“They need to look at themselves now, we’ve given them all the praise in the world and rightly so, but they’ve got to start seeing out games now.”
Shearer replied saying: “That’s a real hammer blow to Luton, I agree”
Will Everton or Luton Town avoid Premier League relegation this season?
The battle at the top of the Premier League table is almost as tight as the current fight for the title and it is still anyone’s guess who will dodge the drop and who will be playing in the Championship come next season.
Everton and Nottingham Forest have a cloud hanging over their head at this moment in time with a potential point deduction heading the way of both sides for PSR breaches and that could flip the entire dynamic on its head.
Sean Dyche’s side are on the longest winless run of any Premier League side this season and will quickly have to change their results, especially at Goodison Park, if they want to confirm their place in the top-flight for another season.
However, Luton’s showdown with Forest on Saturday (16 March) could be decisive and a draw would massively boost the Toffees’ chances of survival, however, a win over Bournemouth would be a huge step in the right direction.
In other Everton news, the Toffees have been tipped to beat Tottenham to the signing of Hull City’s Jacob Greaves
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