Goodison’s Greatest Games: Everton 3-2 Wimbledon

Saturday, 7th May 1994

On the final day of the 1993/94 Premier League season, Mike Walker’s Everton side simply had to secure all three points at home to a strong Wimbledon side.

Swindon Town had already claimed the first relegation place, meaning that the other two spots would be filled by either Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Southampton or Everton.

The Toffees sat third from bottom on 40 points heading into the final game of the season, and their start to the match couldn’t have been much worse. Swedish international Anders Limpar gave away a penalty in the fourth minute, and an already nervous Goodison Park held its breath as Wimbledon’s Dean Holdsworth ran up to take the spot kick.

The Dons’ striker scored, but only just, and Goodison Park fell silent but for the cheers from the travelling Wimbledon support. Walker’s men needed to refocus from this early setback; the next goal could prove crucial. However, in the 20th minute, Wimbledon had the ball in the Everton penalty area, and a shot from Andy Clarke was deflected into the back of his own net by Gary Abblett.

The Dons were now 2-0 up, and the Everton faithful started to accept that their team was going to be relegated, barring some kind of miracle. 

Step forward, Graham Stuart.

 The Toffees were handed a lifeline in the 24th minute when Limpar was adjudged to have been brought down in the penalty area. Up stepped Stuart in front of the building site that was the Park End to coolly place the ball into the bottom left corner, game on!

With the fans willing them on, Everton were resurgent, and in the 67th minute, Goodison Park was treated to a spectacular equalising goal from an unexpected source. Welsh midfielder Barry Horne burst through the centre of the pitch, controlled a bouncing ball, and let rip with a powerful effort from 25 yards out, which flew into the top corner.

The Toffees continued to push, knowing that they simply had to score again or all their efforts so far would have been in vain. In the 81st minute, a long kick forward from Southall got Everton on the attack and Limpar cut inside from the left-hand side and played the ball into the feet of Stuart.

Stuart, whose penalty gave the Evertonians hope, played a quick one-two with Tony Cottee on the edge of the Wimbledon box and, on receiving the ball back, took a quick shot from outside of the box which caught Hans Seger off guard and the ball bobbled over the hand of the diving goalkeeper.

Everton had completed the comeback of all comebacks, beating Wimbledon 3-2 and, thanks to Chelsea beating Sheff Utd, secured their Premier League safety. This game has gone on to be dubbed the ‘Great Escape’ and Graham Stuart became an instant cult hero with the fans.

While no true Everton fan really wants to classify an escape from relegation as part of Goodison’s greatest games, it’s hard to deny this match as being so. There was so much emotion involved, and escaping relegation on the final day is always thrilling; to do so from two goals down is unforgettable.

Starting Lineups

Everton: Southall, Ablett, Unsworth, Watson, Snodin, Ebbrell, Horne, Limpar, Stuart, Cottee & Rideout.

Wimbledon: Segers, Barton, Elkins, Blackwell, Scales, Gayle, Earle, Fear, Jones, Clarke & Holdsworth.

Scorers:

Dean Holdsworth (4 Pen), Gary Ablett OG (20), Graham Stuart (24 Pen, 81), Barry Horne (67)

Attendance: 31,233

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