Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman believes his old club’s win over Brighton & Hove Albion was a crucial moment in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Abdoulaye Doucoure's fine strike against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon ensured the Blues will play top-flight football next season. The goal arrived in the second-half and sent Goodison Park wild.
Everton went into their final day of the season clash against Gary O’Neil’s side knowing a win would be enough to keep them up. However, at half-time, Sean Dyche’s side were heading to the Sky Bet Championship as Leicester City led West Ham United 1-0 at the King Power.
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But one of the main reasons the Blues had their destiny in their own hands heading into Sunday was due to the fact they managed to stun Brighton 5-1 at the Amex at the start of May. Everton produced a superb display of counter-attacking football and came away with all three points thanks to braces from Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dwight McNeil as well as an own goal from Jason Steele.
And Osman, speaking exclusively to the ECHO at a Socios Fan Token Cup event at Goodison, believes the win on the South Coast gave the Blues the belief that they could avoid the drop.
"We all went through it and experienced that moment during the game of just utter delight when Abdoulaye Doucoure scored that goal," the former midfielder said, reflecting on the events of Sunday.
"Then we had the nervous wait, waiting for the referee to blow that whistle. It is much more difficult to watch than it is to play. That’s what I have taken out of these last few seasons!
"Thankfully, Sean Dyche had faith in the team, and they produced what he asked them to, and the team stayed in the Premier League.
"It was really good commitment, real good belief in themselves and I think the Bournemouth game was the end but that Brighton game was absolutely crucial.
"To go there against expectations, not many people would have put Everton down to not only come away with a win but arguably the surprise result of the season. They were fantastic that day and it has helped keep Everton in the Premier League."
Everton’s players have been forced to accept the negative reaction to their recent performances this season. But Osman believes Dyche’s squad deserve praise for finding a way to get themselves over the line.
He said: "It is a brilliant thing to be a Premier League footballer. To be able to play for a living and do the job you love.
"It is great when it goes well but there are times in your career when you are criticised and times in your career when it is not easy and difficult and things aren’t going your way.
"They were under tremendous pressure and they were getting criticised for not being at the standards required, but they found a way to lift themselves.
"They managed to get some big and crucial results that this club so needed. The last three months will be looked upon quite well with regards to the season because it wasn’t well up to that point."
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