Everton are just eight games away from the end of the Premier League season, and are in one of the comfier positions of those battling the drop.
After all, they are four points clear of the relegation zone, boast a game in hand, and will face all five of the sides around them before the campaign is over.
Their destiny is well and truly in their own hands, and for Sean Dyche, he could not have hoped for much else.
It seems that many pundits are therefore starting to turn in their favour, and after Theo Walcott made his prediction for the relegation run-in, another three have offered their verdict.
Match of the Day pundits all in agreement over Everton relegation battle
Speaking on last night’s iteration of BBC’s Match of the Day, in which Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards all combed over the many midweek fixtures this week, their assessment of Everton’s match with Newcastle United was brief.
However, it was noted how the result naturally favoured the visitors far more, with the trio actually in agreement over just how monumental a point there could prove to be.
After all, not only did they snatch it late in the game, but it also saw Dominic Calvert-Lewin end his goal drought.
Shearer was the first to comment, when looking at the Toffees’ remaining fixtures: ‘Particularly at home Gary, and you look at their home fixtures they’ve got Burnley, Forest, Brentford and Sheffield United so I would think with that result last night and him [Dominic Calvert-Lewin] getting that goal, I would be confident that they’ll have enough to stay in the league.’
Richards would concur: ‘I agree. I think they’ll stay up.’
‘Yeah me too,’ finished Lineker.
Will Everton get another points deduction?
The one mitigating factor that could derail their end to the season is the potential that they will receive another points deduction.
After all, with another independent commission having heard their case last week, we are now awaiting the outcome with interest.
The last time Everton were tried in such a manner they were dealt with a ten-point deduction, so anything similar could prove catastrophic this time around.
Fortunately, there are a number of factors which could work against the Premier League, and in turn quell the scale of the potential punishment.
After all, Nottingham Forest’s four-point deduction has set a new precedent, with ‘good behaviour’ now enough to warrant two points taken off the proposed sanction.
And, with the Toffees having already been punished for two of the three years being scrutinised, it is expected that any deduction will have to be reduced accordingly, by two-thirds.
So, whilst another deduction is likely forthcoming, the various emerging defences could see it reduced to just one or two points, or potentially even a suspended sentence.