Evertonians are doing everything they can to avoid thinking about the Championship at the moment.
SkyBet adverts on television are prompting swift channel changes, Don Goodman's co-commentary on Championship games is sending shivers down the spine and even the ongoing second-tier Playoffs are a tough watch with safety not yet secured - it's hard to pick a team to back if you're unsure whether you'll be playing them next season.
Top-flight football for 2022-23 could and should have been boxed off already for Everton. Last week a 0-0 draw with Watford is increasingly looking like a missed opportunity - they were hammered 5-1 by Leicester City at the weekend - while Brentford's 3-2 win at Goodison Park is still tinged with bitterness thanks to more inept officiating.
