Alan Shearer believes Everton showed true guts to win at Leicester on Sunday, but it is too early to start patting people on the back with relegation still a realistic proposition.
The Blues took the lead at the King Power Stadium thanks to a glorious volley by Vitalii Mykolenko but were pegged back when Patson Daka took advantage of a mistake by Yerry Mina, drawing the match all square. Such a setback has been unrecoverable by the Blues for most of the season, but on this occasion Mason Holgate restored their lead of the half-hour mark, heading home from close range.
It turned out to be the winning goal after Frank Lampard's side put in a determined defensive performance to keep out Leicester and secure a second successive Premier League victory, moving the Toffees out of the relegation zone in the process. And according to Match of the Day pundit Shearer, it is that level of commitment that can help Everton beat the drop after others have doubted them.
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Writing in his BBC column, he said: "This is the Everton team who then Burnley boss Sean Dyche said 'didn't know how to win' when they led the Clarets at half-time at Turf Moor before collapsing, just over a month ago. Dyche was right then, but it's not the case anymore. Everton changed the narrative at King Power Stadium, and got themselves an absolutely massive result.
"Just as in their win over Chelsea last weekend, Everton had to rely on some resolute defending, as well as some more outstanding saves from Jordan Pickford, to get the points. The whole team stuck together and showed a great attitude to get across the line, which hasn't always been the case during the past few months.
"It was gritty, and gutsy - and certainly not pretty, but then it doesn't have to be when you are scrapping to avoid relegation. What mattered was that the Everton players gave everything and it was the same with their supporters in the stands, who travelled to Leicester in such numbers and played a huge part in them getting the win.
"They are still only a point clear of third-bottom Leeds, so it is not the time to be patting each other on the back just yet but, with four games to go, the most important thing is that their fate is in their own hands."
While Shearer, the Premier League's all-time top goal scorer, thinks Everton's prospects now look at lot more positive, he held the opposition view of Leeds United, who have now slipped into the relegation zone.
He added: "Everton cannot relax yet but the pressure is hugely on Leeds now, after they dropped into the bottom three. Leeds also have two home games to come, but they have the added problem of a much worse goal difference than Burnley and Everton, which gives them even more work to do to stay up."
