I'm in Africa so not seen anything of the game today - how did the team play; did Stones play well again??

Bit of paybacks for the Mackems for the defeat at Goodison — we look great sitting in fourth spot.........COYB's

We really should have wrapped the game up with two excellent counter-attacking opportunities near the end. I'm not complaining. COYB.

66 points is now a PL record for us with 5 to play, and we have matched the record of 19 wins in a PL season.

The bookies don’t think there’s much in it now - after today we are 11/10 with Arsenal just odds-on at 5/6.

Can’t wait for the next two games.

Though I think The Arse are still favourites, we still have everything to play for. If we get 4th... Great! If not, I’m sure we will finish in the top 4 next season.

I’m 63 yearrs old and supported Everton all my life and am lucky in that I have seen us win League titles and trophies but as far as I am concerned that is not the be all and end all. I love Everton and will do until I die. I have lots of memories about the Blues and it’s impossible to compare teams of different generations. My idols are Ball, Kendall and Harvey, but I am really exited about what we can achieve under Roberto.

Lukaku and Naismith nowhere near as effective as last week. I thought Gerard looked terrible first half and needed taking off, but just goes to show what can be achieved with perseverance.

Looking forward to the season decider tomorrow between the RS and Man City, just thinking it could go either way when I saw the name of the ref: Clattenberg

Does Brian Barwick (red neck) still have a say in such matters at the FA???

Said to myself "I'd take a 1-0 win with an own goal off a Sunderland backside." Who knew?

He was spot on.

Had Nais buried his chance in the first half, we might have opened them up a bit in the second, but while it was 0-0, it was never easy (that's no criticism of Nais, yes he should have buried it, but again he put in a shift and never let their backs settle).

Loved that Deulofeu kept 'trying to win the lottery' and eventually did.

By the way, Stones's Jags-style save was fantastic and showed great thinking.

Other than that, hope City win 6-0 and... Up the Toffees!

Only 6 points off Chelsea.

Games are coming thick and fast. Rest and recovery are crucial.

That was exactly my thoughts, how long have we watched the other crowds (by this I mean Man Utd, Chelsea etc, not just the kopites) win spawnily in the last five minutes?

If we can do this, then we are in there

But what is increasingly impressive is our ability to win matches even when not at our best. I think it says a lot about the character of the side, and the addition of Barry and McCarthy to provide that solid defensive and ball winning base is the absolute foundation of the style that Martinez is creating.

I'd be certainly worried to lose Barry and I would expect him to be our number one priority on a two year deal. Gibson gives you different options but I don't really see him in that ball winning role.

Great news he didn't pick a card up today as there is now an amnesty on previously acquired yellows. However he will need replacing for the City game. Hopefully Pienaar is fit and one of Ross or Ossie can play a little deeper.

Now if the national media would even temporarily suspend their collective gushing/ cynical obsession with the top-four/ Spurs-Man.Utd, for just a moment, that would be just great..

Serious question: Does an unfit, out of practice Jagielka actually get into this side when he comes back? I'm genuinely concerned that he might fuck-up in a key game.

We've had our disappointing spells this season, like at the start before the deadline day (understandable) and Dec/Jan, but ultimately we have, with FIVE to play secured Everton's highest points total in the Premier League era, and winning seven on the bounce (so far).

A good season of transition for Martinez I'd say!

That last 10 minutes was like watching amateurs. Couldn’t keep hold of the ball.

Del Boy was atrocious the first half, not much better the second but he can take a man on.

I thought it would have been easy after Naismith scored...... what do you mean he missed? Absolutely brilliant turn, piss poor finish. I was already celebrating and telling him how good a goal it was...then BALLOON!!

Winning ugly gets as many points as the Arsenal walk over, so that’ll do for me!

Is the headline apt? I though Del was poor in the first half.

COYB - keep it going lads.

I'm beginning to get excited. Getting 3 points when you're not playing well at desperate relegation battlers is a great sign. Perhaps an element of luck is involved but who cares.

Congrats to Martinez and his team. Onto the next one.

Fingers crossed Arse go out on penalties shortly, and are shattered for West Ham on Tuesday.

Speaking of penalties, any one up for a guess at what time in the game our lovable neighbours will get the first of their penalties from Clattenburg tomorrow? I’ll go for around the 40th minute.

Keep it going Blue boys.

Naismith said only this morning that Martinez has a different game-plan for each match and players expect to be dropped depending upon the opposition.

It’s easy to just name your best 11 every game, but that’s where fatigue will set in, exactly when we need a fresh squad. I don’t think there are many managers who would have dropped Barkley and Mirallas today after their displays against Arsenal - but that was precisely the right call.

As an aside, Barry cannot be suspended now for any yellow cards, today was the cut off point.

But we looked so lethargic at times and, whether that is that old mentality coming in to play where against the big-hitters we raise our game, I don't know... but we'll have to be at full throttle on Wednesday as Pulis's team will be relaxed and we will have to play our best to get the desired result.

This manager is a breath of fresh air and, regardless of where we finish, he’s done wonders! What a feeling he’s give us... I can’t believe it.

I honestly thought we’d have to take a couple of steps back this season but the way he’s brought us on is nothing short of miraculous. I even had the bitterest of reds in the pub last night waxing lyrical about him. I love Everton!

Both Spurs and Utd can reach a maximum of 72 points. Everton only need 7 more points (out of possible 15) to reach 73 points (in the case of Spurs, 72 points would be enough because of vastly superior goal difference).

There is no way that we will finish lower than 6th. 5th is highly likely and 4th is now a realistic possibility as Arsenal, unlike Everton, are not in a good run of form - and may be saving something for the Cup Final.

Perfect result to deflate Arsenal and put the pressure on them. Stones is just boss and there’s no way he can be dropped after seven in a row, no way.

Robert 622, the FA Cup Semi went better than I thought. Arsenal through with penalties, I think the thought of cup final glory will keep them distracted. Schedule wise, it’s probably not going to matter much but the distraction should keep their poor form running. Who knows, maybe Hull will roll over to save some in the tank against them in the Final too!

After reading both your comments I recall how dominant we are, say over the past few weeks and how meek we are during those tough matches in the late Jan to early March stretch.

There are pros and cons to both methods of team selection and results will always vary when players have bad games and matchups sometimes.

I trust RM to have learnt from that bad stretch in Feb though to have a more solid idea of how our players will matchup against our opponents and very excited for the ManU game. Not so much City especially if they lose tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll win out and improve upon the squad in before and after the WC.

Question though. Is Barry only going to miss ManC game after this? I read somewhere that if he avoids a yellow in the Sunderland game, his yellow cards count will be reset. Is that correct?

I feel the crunch games for Arsenal will be West Brom (h) and Norwich (a) which is their last game of the season.

Roberto said it would go down to the last day, and it seems he got that right as well! I love the fact we are only 8 points off the top of the League with 5 to play. Absolutely incredible.

I do enjoy the fact you mentioned that we're 8 points off summit. When was the last time we've been this close to the top at this stage of the season?!

Talk of dropping players is ludicrous, we are rotating players to conserve energy and reduce the risk of injury.Jagielka needs to be fit to play for England is being nursed but he is still our first choice centre back along with Distin.Stones is becoming really good but is still learning.

We pay his wages, Sod what's best for the England Team until the season is over

So many reasons to be happy!