Everton supported by Burnley and Luton Town over Nottingham Forest claims Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher claims Everton will have the support of relegation rivals Luton Town and Burnley in their crucial clash with Nottingham Forest.
The Sky Sports pundit said live on the broadcaster’s pre-match coverage on 21 April that the two sides in the relegation zone will hope Sean Dyche comes away with three points from the game at Goodison Park, before Forest are easier to overcome in their hopes of getting out of trouble.
The Toffees are a point better off prior to kick-off in 16th, and have played a game fewer than Nuno Espirito Santo’s men, giving them a slight edge before the match starts.
Louis Saha said: “It’s a difficult one, that’s the nature of the Premier League, there is games where you wish that those guys cancel each other, but that’s not the way it works. A draw may feel like a good result for them.”
“I think they’d want Everton to win,” Carragher cut in. “Obviously Nottingham Forest have played the extra game, Everton are a point clear of Nottingham Forest. I think if you’re Burnley you want Everton to win and you think you can claw Nottingham Forest back.”
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Support from relegation rivals won’t make much difference to the Toffees on the day but the backing of their fans might.
All too often in recent seasons Everton have relied on the home fans to drag them over the line in relegation battles.
That hasn’t been the case as much this term, with away form improved, relatively speaking, and Dyche’s men would be clear from danger if it wasn’t for eight points deducted for two charges in the same season.
The manager is well aware that pressure is building on him despite that after a rancid run of one win this calendar year, but has taken the bold step of publicly turning that pressure onto his players.
They will need to react the right way after putting up so little fight at Stamford Bridge on Monday where they were blown away 6-0 by Cole Palmer and company.
A win here would truly be a six-pointer in the relegation battle and leave Forest with the two rivals breathing down their neck, while allowing Everton to put further distance between themselves and the danger zone with their game in hand.
It doesn’t have to be pretty, and on recent evidence likely won’t be, but even a fortunate, scrappy victory in the mould of the 1-0 win over Burnley a fortnight ago would probably do at this stage.
In other Everton news, a “gobsmacked” administration verdict has been issued by a pundit whose friend is owed money by the Toffees.
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