Everton face an almighty task this weekend, when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Goodison Park.
And whilst quality-wise this match does not promise much, given the two sides have just one win each across their last eight respective games, it will mean everything in the grand scheme of the relegation battle.
A win could propel the Toffees to a position of relative safety. A loss would surely condemn them to a nervy, anxiety-inducing final five games.
Sean Dyche simply has to get it right tomorrow, and ensure he can quell the threat the visitors will pose.
Nuno Espirito Santo hatches plan to beat Everton
Speaking in his press conference ahead of his side’s clash with Everton tomorrow lunchtime, Nuno Espirito Santo has essentially revealed his plan to taste victory.
And, ironically enough, it involves the home crowd.
As a group that has so often been staunch supporters of the team, recent events have driven a wedge between them, leading to mass unrest. Monday night’s 6-0 drubbing did little to bridge that gap too.
However, when things do not go so well on the day, whether that be from a lack of quality or effort, Goodison Park can turn nasty.
Nuno likely knows this, as will many other Premier League managers, and he now plans to use it.
He claimed: ‘I know how strong they are at Goodison Park and how hard it is going to face them. It’s going to be a tough game. Part of the plan is to play good, control and dominate the game. If that happens the crowd gets silenced. We have to be ready.
‘There will be moments when we don’t have the ball and the crowd will get loud. We have to be strong in those moments.’
Goodison Park has to stand up for Everton
Having turned up in the past few seasons to drag the players to the finish line, this season arguably marks the most difficult and therefore important time to do it again.
However, unsurprisingly so, fans are tired.
This is the third straight season they have been embroiled in a relegation fight, and with deductions and takeover nonsense mixed in too, it has not been an easy year to be an Evertonian.
They would be forgiven for reducing their support somewhat.
But that simply is not an option.
With the fan group The 1878s having devised a number of key strategies to hopefully boost the atmosphere, it promises to be a cauldron of noise that can hopefully spur on the home side.
However, and perhaps most crucially, the fans must continue supporting should they fall behind. This is, above all else, a must-not-lose game.