The Fulham game on Saturday was a lot easier than most fans would have expected, Fulham never really seemed to show any spirit or determination to do anything at Goodison and in the end it felt like a bit of a routine victory for Everton. Nikica Jelavic keeps scoring for us and it’s exciting to think about what he could do next season if we manage to hold the squad together.
Leon Osman played his 300th game for Everton on Saturday, which in this day and age isn’t a mean feat.
Finishing Above Liverpool: Playing against Stoke City on Tuesday night is going to be tough, but it’s a game we need to take something from if we are to finish above Liverpool.
It would be a small consolation but a consolation nonetheless and say and I can’t pretend I wouldn’t be happy to finish the season above them.
Everton And Stoke Similarities: It’s easy to see the similarities between Everton and Stoke, albeit they have come up from the Championship. Stoke have laid good foundations on and off the pitch with a newish stadium, excellent training facilities and great support.
Stoke’s team is getting better too, sure there not pretty but Everton weren't after they sold Rooney and we were forced to grind out results with Marcus Bent upfront on his own! The camaraderie between Everton’s players that season resulted in a top seven finish and we have built slowly but surely from there and it seems we are the model that Stoke too are trying to copy.
They do what they have to especially at the Britannia Stadium, while at Goodison they haven’t always been able to have their own way and Stoke's away form must frustrate their manager Tony Pulis.
Hopefully with the end of season in sight Stoke may take their foot off the pedal a little and give Everton a chance to win away, this is unlikely though and it could be a tough scrappy end of season game.
Everton will have a defence packed with tall centre half’s and they could all be needed with Stoke’s threat from set pieces who have the massive Peter Crouch in their team.
Team News: Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell are still out for Everton and it will probably be a similar team to the one that played Fulham on Saturday. Stoke will be without defender Andy Wilkinson while Thomas Sorensen could play in goal for the Potters.
Our Prediction: Stoke City 1-1 Everton
Actual Score: Stoke City 1-1 Everton
