'Run, run, whoever you may be' goes the famous Everton battle cry from the terraces of course and, while nobody is seriously advocating violence, Blues fans will no doubt be encouraged by the thought that Sean Dyche’s players are up for a fight.
When you’re toiling near the foot of the table, they don’t call it a relegation scrap for nothing and after several years of loyal but long-suffering Evertonians being concerned that their players were a soft touch, those same supporters who back the team both home and away can take heart that those wearing the royal blue jersey might be capable of showing at least some of the passion for the badge that they possess. After picking up FA fines for mass confrontations in their games against Liverpool and Leeds United last month, there was more fisticuffs – albeit on a smaller scale – in Everton’s tempestuous 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Many of Everton’s successful teams had a steely side to them. The Holy Trinity of Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey and Alan Ball – aided by the likes of Johnny Morrissey, one of the hardest wingers in football – were flexible enough to spray it around when the occasion required or mix it up if an opponent wanted a fight.
