It’s a good point. Virginia’s performance probably gave him some food for thought too. He seems a lot calmer all of a sudden too. Long may it continue

On another note when a team is on the up its only natural you'll meet another on the way down. Which is what happened on Friday.

On to Villa and a Ross own goal would do it for me !!

Can we do it? I doubt it personally because of our inconsistency at home but, if we can just keep picking up points, even one at a time, then it's possible especially, if we can get Doucouré back for a few games. Everybody is struggling, especially at home.

Another very good article from you.
Calm, measured and appreciated

I know that scenario is extremely unlikely, but it highlights that more often than not that scrappy wins are common place, even more so, amongst good sides. In fact it could be argued that these grinding wins are what makes them a good side and are the mortar in the structure of success.

Lyndon's right, sometimes it doesn't matter how you win. But it always matters how you lose. If you give up and roll over or you give it your very best - these can be very different losses, obviously you get just the same - nowt. One can show its a lost cause...pull it down and start again - don't reinforce failure, the other can say you're on the right track.

For me if six goalies kick our winner into the back of their own net for six miserable, boring wins then bring it on.

The point about Villa and West Ham is one I've made for weeks.

All games are important, but the Villa games and West Ham alone could provide 9 points against those in the mix with us. Takes us to 61 points.

Then there are also interesting games against Wolves and City on the last day, both of which points are there to take (City being in holiday mode as Champions by then).

I might have missed something but why was Delph preferred over Tom as sub? Bizarre.

Still much to fix come the summer for Carlo and Marcel, but at least we will start the new season with renewed optimism.

Delph had some socks, so got the nod.

With the games left, this meant that the team had to be set up in defensive mode so as to at least achieve a 0-0 draw and a point, particularly at home. By achieving draws, it would be possible to progress table-wise, as other competing teams lost. . . Big Sam like.

The next objective was to counter-attack to nick a goal and 3 points. This was further developed by coaching players to play percentage football.

In the previous two games, defensive errors cost Everton points. It could be the case that Keane was carrying an injury. Replaced by Godfrey, this stopped the errors, though the pace and wingback support for the forwards was lost. Allan is a great help to James, deterring the latter from being targeted and marked in the second half.

A looking to the sky James substitution was delayed so that Everton could absorb Arsenal pressure to set up the counter-attack which was noticed by the commentator's sidekick on Hesgoal. The counter-attack resulted in Richarlison putting a percentage ball across the goal which, combined with Calvert-Lewin's percentage role attacking the near post, resulted in a goal.

This is the tactical type team that Ancelotti will put out in the remaining games. The Everton result this weekend has the bonus of other teams faltering to Everton's advantage in obtaining a European place. All part of Ancelotti's poker game plan. At least Ancelotti didn't bring in players like Tosun and Walcott to nick a goal at great expense, like Big Sam. Maybe that was the idea behind King, but Ancelotti just needs him to see out games.

Delph obviously did no work at Finch Farm other than on his socks, which showed.

"Sometimes, it doesn't matter how you win. "

The Delph signing made sense at the time but it’s been a complete disaster and I don’t see the point in rehabilitating him back into the side.

Danny #16 "I believe Tom didn't have his socks ready Brent.
Delph had some socks, so got the nod."

Danny, the commentator also noted that Delph's socks had the blue and the white sections in the wrong places (blue at the top instead of the bottom?). We need a wardrobe director.

Apart from a miskick and wrong socks, Delph pretty much did as requested when he came on.

I’m betting that he’s influential behind the scenes. Who was it recently called him ‘the teacher’ in an interview?

Bearing in mind he’s not been seen for months, it’s a big call to bring him on before Davies who has been playing well, and Ancelotti isn’t the sort of manager to take a reckless gamble, as far as I can see. So perhaps he trusts him?

I suspect we may see a bit more of him in coming weeks, provided he can keep fit of course!

I agree on the Delph debate. Absolutely no reason he should be on the pitch ahead of Davies.

All I can think is the manager was confident and is saving Tom for what is ahead of us. Possibly a compliment to Davies.

Delph's signing was just a addition to deadwood with a injury record to match, How he managed to get a better contract than his Man City contract does stick out like a sore thumb under Brands tenure. Delph even when playing has always looked like a linkman to nowhere.

At no point in the season have we looked capable of hammering any team 4-0. Even in the first two home games against West Brom and Brighton, there were substantial periods when we could not control the play, hence conceding two goals per match against teams destined to struggle near the foot of the table.

Given our performances and results over recent weeks I expect us to win two, draw two and lose two of our remaining matches. That will take us to sixty points which will represent decent progress from the forty nine points we reached last season. Anything more than that will be a bonus.