For the third time, Everton’s Premier League status is on the line going into the final day of the season when they host Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Blues survived on both previous occasions in 1994 and 1998 but unlike then, their fate is in their own hands this time around with Sean Dyche’s side knowing a win will guarantee they stay up. Although second time around, Everton were ultimately pegged back by Dion Dublin’s 89th minute equaliser after Nick Barmby’s penalty was saved five minutes earlier, from the moment that Gareth Farrelly had fired them ahead in the seventh minute, they were always on course for safety.
Their first ‘Great Escape’ in 1994 though was by far the most dramatic given the nature of their comeback at Goodison Park, the number of clubs involved and the changing picture across the afternoon with a rival club’s doom not sealed until the last few seconds. Just seven years on from their last League Championship in 1987, Everton faced a first relegation since 1951 after an alarming slump in form after Howard Kendall had resigned to end his second spell as manager following a 1-0 home win over Southampton on December 4 had moved them up to 11th.
