ON THIS DAY…Jags strike secures win over Saints, Whiteside and Cottee at the double and Blues go top in 1975
Phil Jagielka scored his second goal in three games ON THIS DAY in 2015.
Southampton were the visitors to Goodison Park on 4 April and the outcome was settled by a first-half goal from the skipper, who had also scored at Dynamo Kiev sixteen days earlier.
Ronald Koeman’s Saints were chasing a European slot whereas the Blues were in mid-table.
The only goal of the game came in the 16th minute when a Leighton Baines corner was cleared to the feet of Gareth Barry, who returned the ball into the penalty area where Jagielka swooped to knock it in.
It was Jagielka’s fifth goal of the season and secured third consecutive Premier League victory for Everton.
Back in April 1990, Norman Whiteside, Tony Cottee and Kevin Sheedy were neck and neck in the race to be Everton’s top scorer for the campaign.
Nottingham Forest were the opponents ON THIS DAY 30 years ago and it was the Englishman and the Northern Irishman who forged ahead in the goals contest.
Cottee opened the scoring with a splendid finish after 12 minutes – curling a lovely shot past Steve Sutton after fine build-up play from Graeme Sharp and Peter Beagrie. Sixty seconds later, Whiteside got in on the act when Cottee turned provider to tee him up from 10 yards.
Whiteside then scored his second just before half-time when he headed home a Beagrie corner at the far post.
The fourth and final goal came just before the end of the game when Sharp crossed for Cottee to plant a firm header past Sutton.
The goals left Cottee and Whiteside on 13 each for the season. Cottee would eventually win the race!
Everton looked destined to win the First Division title ON THIS DAY in 1975, despite only drawing 1-1 at home to Burnley.
The Blues went into the Easter Friday game in second position in the table, behind Ipswich Town, and after a goalless first-half, Bob Latchford gave Everton the lead in the 58th minute.
It was an advantage that was preserved until 13 minutes from time when Peter Noble pulled Burnley level.
The point put Everton top but there were, incredibly, just two points between the top five – Ipswich, Liverpool, Derby County and Stoke City were the others – and there were still some twists and turns to go…
