Everton secured Premier League survival after a torturous campaign that went down to the last kick.
When referee Stuart Attwell blew the final whistle on Sunday, Goodison Park erupted as the Blues clinched the three points that made it impossible for the club to be among the three that dropped into the Championship.
The battle went down to the wire and in the final weeks of the campaign there was a catalogue of key moments that shaped a rollercoaster of a relegation fight. Here are some of the biggest.
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Jordan Pickford saves James Maddison's penalty
Everton's trip to the King Power was as big as they come. Following the dismal collapse to Newcastle United days earlier, the game at relegation rival Leicester City had the potential to be fatal to the side that lost. Everton took the lead through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty but on the brink of half-time were 2-1 down had just watched club captain Seamus Coleman get stretchered off the pitch. When a penalty was given to the hosts for a Michael Keane handball it felt as though taker James Maddison had the Blues' fate in his control. Everton had struggled to score all season and overcoming a two-goal deficit verged on the highly unlikely.
Yet instead of wheeling away in celebration Maddison was left stunned after Jordan Pickford stood tall and saved. Pickford had notes about Leicester's penalty takers on his water bottle and a camera later captured the detail of the briefings. The bottle told him to stay in the middle should Maddison step up. The save kept Everton alive in the game and an Alex Iwobi goal led to a crucial point.
Abdoulaye Doucoure sparks pandemonium on the south coast
As important as that point in the Midlands was, Everton were still in deep trouble as the club headed to high-flying Brighton a week later. The expected difficulty of securing positive results from the trip to the Amex and the upcoming tie with Manchester City meant the club was clinging on for dear life ahead of what it was hoped would be two easier fixtures to finish the season.
Yet at Brighton Everton pieced together the club's best display of the campaign to thrash the hosts 5-1. The improbable win changed the landscape of the relegation battle and was built on Abdoulaye Doucoure's opening goal, which came after fewer than 40 seconds. That win changed everything.
Applause in defeat
The following game saw Everton fall to a 3-0 defeat to eventual champions Man City. The Blues fought well for the first half an hour but were undone by the brilliance of Ilkay Gundogan, who scored with an elaborate flick and a stunning free-kick. Despite the scoreline and what was at stake, Everton's fans recognised the effort their players had put in and applauded them off the pitch. This was hugely significant and was an act later noted by Seamus Coleman, who used it to emphasise his belief Blues are the best supporters around.
Pickford saves Everton... AGAIN
Pickford has a good case for Everton's player of the season awards and pulled off another crucial save at Wolves. The top storyline from Molineux was Yerry Mina's 99th minute goal salvaging a point for Everton. But that goal would have meant nothing had, moments earlier, Pickford not denied Matheus Nunes when he was played through on goal. Instead he stuck out a leg and poked the effort behind. Minutes later, Mina had the equaliser everyone desperately craved.
Doucoure strikes with Everton going down
Doucoure's fine half-volley came just as the nerves were really beginning to set in at Goodison against Bournemouth. It was a sensational goal and it kept Everton afloat.
Jordan Pickford's rival has to take credit
Special mention in this article must also go to Newcastle United goalkeeper and competitor for Pickford's England #1 jersey, Nick Pope. Newcastle were hugely influential in the run-in and Pope retained high standards throughout. His penalty save from Patrick Bamford when Newcastle visited Leeds United was crucial. Had Bamford scored it would have doubled Leeds' advantage and left the club in pole position to survive.
Instead, he missed and the game ended up as a draw. Pope was up to more heroics in the penultimate game of the campaign when, having not had a save to make, he was forced into a diving stop to prevent Timothy Castagne snatching a last-gasp winner that would have given Leicester control in the survival fight.
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