Former Everton midfielder Don Hutchison has described Frank Lampard’s team as 'fragile' and 'awful' as they continue their battle to avoid the drop.
The Blues suffered yet more Premier League embarrassment on Monday night as they were beaten 5-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur.
The humiliating defeat in the capital leaves the Blues just one point and one place above the relegation zone.
And it has raised serious doubts about Everton’s top-flight status as they enter the final few months of the season.
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Next up for the Blues is what many supporters believe are must win back-to-back home games against Wolves and Newcastle United.
And Hutchison, who was part of the Everton side that survived on the last day of the 1997/98 season, is pinning all his hopes on his old team staying up with the help of the Goodison Park faithful.
“I was thinking about 1998 when I played for Everton, and we survived on the last day of the season on goal difference,” he told ESPN.
“We had good characters like Dave Watson, Duncan Ferguson, Nick Barmby… we weren’t the best side in the world but we had bottle and character.
“I give [this side] a boxer’s chance at Goodison, because away from home forget it, it’s a fragile team, it’s an awful team, one of the worst I’ve seen. I’m pinning all my hopes on Everton at Goodison with the fans.”
While fellow ESPN pundit and former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes Goodison needs to become a real fortress in order for Everton to survive.
He said: “This is about guts, and fight, and spirit. I agree with Don, this is about Goodison Park, because of all the sides that could go down, they don’t have a Goodison Park.
“Goodison’s an intimidating place, and the pitch is smaller, and that’s why they’ll be able to defend better.”
