Everton’s proud status as one of just six Premier League clubs never to have been relegated was given a major boost after an appeal reduced their ten-point deduction to six. The Toffees were handed the sanction after being found guilty of a series of financial fair play breaches, however, an independent appeal has agreed that the original penalty was too harsh.
The added points will greatly aid their quest to uphold that fine record of not being demoted since the Premier League’s rebrand more than 30 years ago.
Sticky Patch
Prior to their successful appeal, Everton were bang in trouble. After 26 rounds of EPL matches, the Toffees found themselves one place – and just one point – above the relegation zone, with nearest rivals Luton Town enjoying a game in hand. But four points have now effectively been added onto their total, which has seen the relegation odds at sportsbooks like Paddy Power shift once more towards Luton (-175) than Everton (+500) once more.
Many sports betting tips columns have also been championing the cause of the Merseysiders who, at the time of writing, have lost just one of the last of their prior six outings. Their streak so far suggests that they may just have had the on-field ability to stave off a ten-point deduction anyway.
But now that’s been reduced to six points, Sean Dyche and his men can breathe something of a sigh of relief. The appeals board found that two of the nine charges levied against Everton from the independent commission’s original verdict were inaccurate, with ‘legal errors’ effectively seeing them struck from the record.
Onwards and Upwards
The reduction in the sanction by no means guarantees Everton’s safety, but they’ve now climbed above Nottingham Forest and Brentford in the Premier League table after having four points reinstated in their season’s tally.
After 26 game weeks, the Toffees have lost just 11 games – which compares favorably to the 14 defeats suffered by Forest and Brentford and the 15 of Luton.
Dyche’s side also has a much better goals-against column than those other three teams mentioned, so with Sheffield United and Burnley considered relegated already by many pundits – bar the mathematics to confirm as much – there’s a chance that Luton, Forest, and Brentford are ultimately the three teams battling it out to avoid one relegation place.
Of the trio, Brentford perhaps is the club with the most to feel bullish about. Their prolific striker Ivan Toney has returned from his lengthy suspension, and his ability to put the ball in the net – he’s racked up 36 EPL goals in 71 starts for the Bees – is the kind of difference-maker that all relegation-threatened teams need.
Forest has their version of Toney. Taiwo Awoniyi was injured in November and didn’t pull on the red shirt again until January 30th, when he scored on his return against Arsenal.
In his six appearances since returning to the team, the Nigerian scored twice and assisted another goal, which gave the Nottinghamshire club an almighty boost. This could perhaps be the difference between relegation and just about keeping their heads above water.
Luton continues to put in committed performances, but they lack a Toney or an Awoniyi up front. With just one win in seven, the Hatters will need to pull a rabbit or two out of a hat to remain a Premier League concern.
