Everton stayed up in the Premier League and avoided a first relegation in 72 years to complete their rehabilitation under Sean Dyche thanks to a stunning goal by Abdoulaye Doucoure, a player who had fallen out of favour in the latter days of predecessor Frank Lampard’s reign.
Despite having already posted the lowest equivalent points total in the club’s entire 135-year Football League and Premier League history, Everton nevertheless went into the final day of the season with their fate in their own hands, knowing that a victory would be enough to avoid the drop, regardless of what their rivals did elsewhere.
As expected, the Blues took to the field against the backdrop of a wall of tumultuous noise and passion but even in these conditions, in reality it was unlikely to be anything other than a nerve-shredding afternoon.
