Everton fans of a certain age would be forgiven for experiencing a sense of deja vu ahead of the final Premier League game of the season this weekend.
Unlike the league's standings in 1994 and 1998, Everton's Premier League fate remains firmly in their control and they head into Sunday afternoon's game at Goodison Park knowing three points against already-safe AFC Bournemouth will ensure of their ever-present Premier League status for another 12 months, at least.
But having won just seven games across Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche's tenures on Merseyside this season, the worries surrounding Everton's must-win encounter are entirely understandable.
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But ahead of their search for an eighth and most lucrative win of the season, the Blues are set to be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Nathan Patterson who are both fitness doubts for Sunday's game at Goodison Park and expected to be sidelined for a number of weeks after being withdrawn in the first-half of last weekend's draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Should, as expected, Everton's No.9 be sidelined, it would be a huge blow for Dyche who has watched his side's performances improve with Calvert-Lewin at the focal point of attack in recent weeks. In fact, since his return against Crystal Palace last month, Everton have scored nine goals and added six points to their Premier League points tally - which included a resounding 5-1 win at high-flying Brighton and Hove Albion.
In the absence of the England international, who sits as the club's fifth-highest scorer this season despite just two strikes this term, the Everton boss will be forced to draw up alternatives plans to take advantage of a leaky Bournemouth defence that has conceded 70 goals in the Premier League this season - with only Leeds United (74) posting a worse record.
For Dyche, the answer could lie in terms of set pieces, with Gary O'Neil's side having conceded a staggering 27 goals from set-pieces in their 37 games in the Premier League. Such a record is the worst of any of the 20 teams in the division.
As shown at the Molineux last Saturday when James Tarkowski rose highest to keep Demarai Gray's initial cross alive before Yerry Mina eventually bundled home a 99th-minute equaliser to rescue a vital point against Wolves, Everton boast significant height in both boxes and should look to make use of that against the Cherries this weekend.
In Mina, Tarkowski, Mason Holgate, Amadou Onanna, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ellis Simms - who could be given the nod in the absence of Calvert-Lewin - Everton have a welcoming supply of players who are at least 6ft.
However, despite such an offering, this season Everton have scored just seven goals from set-pieces. Which, according to The Times, stands as the joint worst-tally in the division. Included in that list is, of course, Tarkowski's winner against Arsenal during Dyche's first game in charge of the Blues back in February.
Sitting at the top of the Premier League table at the time, the Gunners fell to a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park as a goal with all the hallmarks of Turf Moor handed Everton a vital three points with three first Premier League win in 10 games, with two former Burnley players combining as Dwight McNeil's second-half corner was met by the towering head of Tarkowski.
Speaking after the victory back in February, Dyche insisted his side needed to do the ugly side of the game if they were to retain they avoid a first relegation since 1951, and, nearly four months on, that particular message rings true ahead of Everton's Premier League ultimatum this weekend.
“There are different ways of creating chances, it is just that sometimes we forget," said the Blues boss. “Sometimes we think the only way to create a chance is to roll it through the six yard box. That is not the only way of creating chances, you have to work in both boxes, you have to find a style and way of working that can work in both boxes so you stop it going in your net and then in the other.
“If we can add more quality at times (that can help) but you have to remember the opposition we faced (Arsenal). They ain’t bad, they are top of the league for a reason. So therefore you have to do the ugly stuff against those sides and against other teams maybe we can be more progressive in our play. Different games for different reasons, different tactics for different situations, but the base won’t change.
“The team has to go out and know we have to fight and we have to work and we are going to work from our base and our shape and the tactical idea of it and the belief of it and the underbelly as I call it that will be intact. We just mould it differently for who we think we are taking on.”
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