Everton made it over the line after a valiant effort in the final weeks of the season.
As grim as the situation appeared after the collapse at home to Newcastle United, the Blues overturned the form book to finish the season four games unbeaten away from Goodison Park. Those away results - which included the 99th-minute equaliser at Wolves - were the crucial foundation for the final game of the season. Without the six points earned at Molineux, Leicester City, Brighton and Crystal Palace, the club’s famous top-flight run would have come to a crashing halt.
Even at Goodison, the defeat to Manchester City provided some positives before a raucous crowd helped Everton survive with a final-day win over Bournemouth. As the season came to an end, a number of players came to the fore amid the nerves, anxiety and injuries that hit Sean Dyche’s plans.
Here is an overview of five of the squad who really stepped up when the club needed them. Honourable mentions also go to James Tarkowski, who was so consistent throughout the season, and Newcastle United keeper Nick Pope, who made vitally important saves against Leeds United and Leicester to prevent them from overhauling Everton.
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Abdoulaye Doucoure
No player in the Everton squad proved more valuable to Sean Dyche than Doucoure. The midfielder was brought in from the cold after a fallout with Frank Lampard and started every one of the 15 games he was available for Dyche - missing three following his straight red card against Tottenham Hotspur. Doucoure was his new manager’s answer to Everton’s struggle to get up the pitch, particularly in the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He went on to score five and set up two goals under Dyche - meaning in just that period he was directly involved in more than 20% of his club’s league goals across the whole season. Doucoure scored and created goals in the draw at Nottingham Forest and scored in the draw at Chelsea as the Blues maintained momentum heading into an international break. His first-minute goal at Brighton was the start of a win that turned the relegation battle in Everton’s favour while his stunning final-day winner cemented him in club folklore.
Dwight McNeil
Rumours of a bust-up in their final days at Burnley abounded when McNeil and Dyche were reunited in late January. Both dismissed those claims publicly but McNeil’s form was the most emphatic rebuttal of such suggestions. McNeil became the goalscoring influence Everton had craved in the final weeks, building on match-winning goals against Southampton and Brentford to then put in the most impressive - and perhaps important - performance by any Everton player this season at Brighton, where he scored twice and set up two. His impact was only curtailed by an injury crisis that forced him to play out of position at Wolves and against Bournemouth, the attacking force having to be sacrificed as Dyche fought to overcome defensive troubles.
Yerry Mina
Mina was the last senior and fit outfield player to get an opportunity under Dyche. Any concerns about his injury record, or suggestions that his mind may have been elsewhere as his contract approached its end, proved unfounded as the 28-year-old stepped in when he was given a chance. Mina was impressive immediately upon his return - which was in the game at Brighton. It was his last-gasp equaliser at Wolves that gave Everton a morale-boosting point in the penultimate game of the campaign and he played well at home to Bournemouth, which he confirmed in advance would be his final game for the club.
James Garner
James Garner struggled to get into the Blues' side following his arrival on the last day of the summer transfer window. Fitness issues initially held him back before a serious back injury left him unavailable for months across the turn of the year. He was given a chance amid Doucoure’s suspension and his composure on the ball and tidy performances led him into Dyche’s first choice midfield before he too was sacrificed to meet defensive demands. Garner was impressive in the middle against Crystal Palace and then fought bravely when he was required to play out of position - first wide right at Wolves then at right-back against Bournemouth.
Jordan Pickford
Pickford has been consistently brilliant for Everton but was once again pivotal in the most important stages of a relegation battle. His penalty save from James Maddison prevented Leicester from taking a two-goal lead in a must-not-lose game that the Blues eventually earned a point from. It is one of the most significant saves in the modern history of his club. At Wolves, with the game seemingly lost, he saved a one-on-one in stoppage time from Matheus Nunes. It was a stop that would later grow in importance with Mina going on to equalise. Against Bournemouth Pickford was once again alert - his save from a late Matias Vina volley keeping the away side at bay as they sought an equaliser than would have condemned Everton to the Championship.
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