Chris Sutton predicts result of Everton v Brentford Premier League clash
Chris Sutton has predicted the result of the Premier League clash between Everton and Brentford at Goodison Park on Saturday 27 April.
The Toffees moved eight points clear of the relegation zone with four games remaining after a 2-0 win over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday (24 April), while the Bees claimed a dominant 5-1 win over Luton last time out to all but secure their own safety.
And, while making his weekly predictions for BBC Sport (26 April), pundit Sutton admitted that with the pressure now mostly off both teams he expects a cagey affair and tipped the game to end in a draw.
“I always felt Everton’s season depended a lot on Dominic Calvert-Lewin but it felt like he was in the wilderness for months before he put in such a brilliant performance against Liverpool on Wednesday,” he wrote.
“He was such a handful all game and showed what a good a player he is. I was left thinking where have you been for so long?
“You have to wonder how much Everton have got left in the tank after their efforts to win the Merseyside derby but a lot of the pressure is off them now.
“It is the same for Brentford after their run of results – both of these teams are almost safe because Luton would need a miracle to catch them.
“This is a hard one to call because a win would effectively cement survival for whoever gets it, but a draw is also a decent result for both teams – and that might mean this is quite a cagey affair. Everton 1-1 Brentford.”
Sean Dyche and Everton deserve big credit
It’s been very easy to pick on Everton this season, as they’ve been a sitting duck for people to criticise following the madness off the pitch and the at times poor performances on it.
Everton responded well the first time they were hit with a points deduction but a run of one win in 15 games left them in a real scrap to avoid the drop.
But in recent weeks they have bounced back with three wins in four, and even then they had to show incredible resilience after being battered 6-0 by Chelsea in a game they would have felt confident of getting a result from.
The manager deserves huge credit for keeping his head straight and staying focused, and the players deserve some too for being able to beat the drop despite having points taken off them.
Ending the campaign with a run of wins would be perfect, and with just two games remaining at Goodison Park this season proving Sutton wrong and beating Brentford would be a perfect way to start the end-of-season parties.
In other Everton news, Paul Merson has predicted the result of the clash against Brentford.
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