POINTS APPEAL IS GIVING ME A HEADACHE
Garner says waiting for decision on Everton’s future is agonising
JAMES GARNER has admitted Everton’s appeal against a points deduction is playing on his mind.
The Blues scored a late equaliser against Crystal Palace on Monday through Amadou Onana (below) to clamber out of the drop zone.
But they are above Luton only on goal difference as they nervously wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against a 10-point deduction for a breach of financial rules.
Sean Dyche’s side also have a further charge hanging over them, which could lead to another sporting sanction.
These are tense times at Goodison Park as the club sweats on the verdict of an independent panel.
“It plays on my mind,” said former Manchester United star Garner.
“Without the 10point deduction we would be much higher in the league table so, whenever that comes in, I will be waiting.”
Everton would be as high as 12th without the deduction but currently lie in 17th spot in the Premier League table, four points below Nottingham Forest, who are 16th.
They have yet to win in 2024 and only one of their last eight goals in the league has come from open play.
Manager Dyche (above) has seen his side score twice in a game just once since they beat Burnley in December and that was a 2-2 draw with Tottenham at home.
Striker Dominic Calvertlewin is without a goal in 19 games while stand-in Beto has scored just one league goal since he arrived at the club last summer.
“I think it is a concern if you are not scoring goals as goals win games, but it is not just the strikers who we should be relying on to score goals,” midfielder Garner said.
“We need to be chipping in from all places. But it is a bit of a concern if we are not putting the ball in the back of the net when we should be.”
Against Palace, a side without a manager following the departure of Roy Hodgson, Everton struggled badly in the first half before improving after the break.
But there were boos at halftime and grumblings throughout from the Goodison crowd.
“I can understand the fans’ frustrations, but there is so long to go in the season and we need the fans to be supporting us and not booing us,” added Garner. “That is important going forward.
“I understand the frustration because I’m frustrated myself. It is another game that got away from us that we were looking to win.”
Everton are 10-3 to go down, bookies clearly believing there’s a real chance they will have at least a few points handed back.