Everton and Stoke City met at Goodison Park this evening with both sides requiring the three points for different reasons.
Hosting Everton have European aspirations, while the Potters are toying with the relegation zone.
As it was, a solo effort from Everton attacker Kevin Mirallas during the first half was enough to seal all three points for David Moyes's Everton.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Afternoon all. A Saturday wouldn't be complete without a late Premier League fixture, would it? Just like the Sunderland vs. Manchester United game earlier, this one has two teams aiming for very different things between now and the end of the season.
Not that Everton are heading for the Premier League title! Obviously, they're not! However, as mentioned in the introduction, there is a chance that they could secure European football for next season. Three points today would certainly help their cause.
Stoke on the other hand could do with the win to ease any lingering relegation fears. While they are unlikely to go down, some Stoke supporters have been a little twitchy of late. It's nothing a victory or two wouldn't halt, but achieving one of those at Goodison Park is by no means easy.
Anyway, the team news from Goodison is just beginning to filter through. Let's start with what the visitors will be starting with...
STOKE XI: Begovic; Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Shotton, N'Zonzi, Whelan, Jerome; Walters, Crouch
So, former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has been given a starting role in the Stoke attack this afternoon. He will be partnered by Jonathan Walters, while Cameron Jerome has also been included.
And here is what the hosts have to offer...
EVERTON XI: Howard; Baines, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka; Heitinga, Gibson, Mirallas, Osman; Anichebe, Jelavic
So, following his goal against Manchester City last time out, Croatian international Nikica Jelavic has been given a start up front alongside Victor Anichebe. Phil Jageilka has also returned from a leg injury, which in turn has seen Jonny Heitinga promoted into a midfield role.
A win has just become even more important for visiting Stoke because Wigan Athletic have recorded a 1-0 victory at home to Norwich City this afternoon. That means that the gap between Stoke and the drop zone has been cut to just four points. It's getting very nervy down the bottom of the Premier League now and the Potters are certainly involved at the moment.
Meanwhile, the one result from the 3pm starts that really concerns Everton has gone against them. Arsenal have thrashed Reading 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium, which has seen the Gunners go five points clear of the Toffees in the Europa League qualification slot. If Everton are to stand any chance of playing in Europe next season, you feel that they need to win today.
Right, let's quickly update you on all the Premier League matches from today shall we? Arsenal 4-1 Reading; Man City 4-0 Newcastle; Southampton 2-1 Chelsea; Sunderland 0-1 Man United; Swansea 1-2 Tottenham; West Ham 3-1 West Brom; Wigan 1-0 Norwich
You can read all of the match reports from those encounters by clicking this link. Alternatively, if you just want a quick look at an updated Premier League table, you can do so here.
Right then, let's turn our attention back to the game in hand shall we? Here's a quiz question for you: Everton's biggest ever home win was an 8-0 success achieved way back in November 1889. But who was it against?
Any ideas? Surprise, surprise - it was Stoke! A quick scan of some bookmakers' websites and you cannot even find odds for the same scoreline being recorded today! To be honest, with the way that Stoke defend, there isn't any chance of that happening. I don't think so anyway!
Having said that, they will do well to win today. Goodison is a difficult place to go at the best of times, but when you have only won once in your last 11 Premier League matches like Stoke have, the task ahead of them looks to be a mammoth one.
What makes this look an even tougher match for Stoke is the fact that Everton have lost just once at Goodison all season. That's a really good statistic. Having said that, Tony Pulis's visitors can take heart from the fact that Everton have been held to six draws in front of their own supporters.
Here come the players then. As always there is a good atmosphere inside Goodison. This really is a big match for both sides. Who will come through it smelling of roses? We will soon find out.
Game on. Stoke, attacking from left to right, get this crucial fixture started.
OFF THE BAR! Close for Stoke, who see an effort from Jonathan Walters from six yards out crash against the crossbar. He may have been under pressure, but the Irish striker probably should have done better. He had the goal at his mercy but failed to punish some slack Everton defending.
That Walters strike aside, very little has happened at Goodison. Both sides have reverted to playing long balls, which at the moment are being overhit. It's not be one for the purists so far, it must be said.
SAVE! Everton's first real strike at goal comes from Victor Anichebe, who opts to try his luck from a full 30 yards out. It was always lacking in power though and the ball bounces into the hands of a waiting Asmir Begovic.
SAVE! A much easier chance for Everton this time around, but it is wasted by Jelavic. Leighton Baines picks out the Croatian with a cross from the left. He's all alone inside the area, but he only succeeds in planting a header straight at a grateful Begovic in the Stoke net.
Following those couple of chances for Everton, very little has happened at Goodison. Everton are seeing more of the ball, but they are doing very little with it. As expected, Stoke remain organised and are not allowing the home side any time in possession.
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Stoke (Mirallas)
What a stunning goal from Kevin Mirallas - so much so that it doesn't really belong in a game as poor as this! He collects the ball just outside his own area and motors forward. Within seconds he finds himself with just Geoff Cameron in his way and he breezes beyond the American. That leaves him with just Begovic to beat and he does so with great composure. Wonderful from the Belgian.
Stoke have done very little since they have fallen behind. They are well known for making the most of the height that they possess, but that hasn't been the case so far. Most of what they have done in possession has been wasteful if truth be told.
SAVE! So often when Everton have a free kick within shooting range, the ball is hit by Baines. On this occasion the full-back passes the responsibility to Jelavic and he powers an effort over the top of the wall. It looks to be dropping inside the near post but Begovic scampers across his line to grasp the ball.
CHANCE! Mirallas is proving to be a handful for the Stoke defence at the moment. He's just run the full width of the penalty area, before dragging a shot across goal. It's always heading wide, but Anichebe is ever so close to making a connection that would have probably directed the ball into the net.
We will have just one minute of stoppage time here at Goodison.
HALF-TIME: Everton 1-0 Stoke
Well, a relatively poor half of Premier League football has been lit up by a fantastic individual goal from Mirallas. He has been the most lively player on the pitch so far. His side have arguably been the better of the two teams as well, but only just.
What can be changed from a Stoke point of view? A quick look at the bench isn't exactly inspiring any ideas. Who would you bring on out of Sorensen, Jones, Owen, Adam, Whitehead, Kightly and Wilkinson? Maybe former Liverpool striker Michael Owen could have an impact? Or is that just clutching at straws?!
As for Everton, David Moyes will want to see more from his team even though they are in front. They haven't been great by any means and seem to be missing the creative influence of Steven Pienaar. Having said that, Mirallas could win this game on his own the way that he has been playing!
Anyway, the 'Kevin Mirallas Show' is back underway. Stoke need to get something out of this or they are facing a nervy few weeks. Game on!
There has been nothing in the opening five minutes of this half to suggest that much has changed where Stoke's attitude is concerned. They are still persisting with trying to use the height of Crouch, but it isn't working at the moment. Everton are playing all the football.
CHANCE! Stoke go rather close to levelling up proceedings with what was their first effort in a while. A central free kick from Glenn Whelan is met by Robert Huth, who gets up early to meet the ball. The German guides a header downwards, but it skids just wide of the target.
I've got to be honest, both of these teams have been very poor when it comes to passing today. Neither has managed to string any more than five passes together on a regular basis. If the Premier League is the greatest in the world, then this isn't a great advert for that school of thought!
CHANCE! Ryan Shotton - you simply must do better. A deflected cross finds the midfielder all alone at the back post, but he somehow manages to send his headed effort over the crossbar from two yards out! From that position, it didn't look possible for him to do that!
SAVE! Back up the other end and Begovic continues to get the better of Jelavic. On this occasion the Everton striker attempts to divert a headed effort at the back post into the opposite corner of the net, but the Stoke keeper is equal to his effort.
BOOKING! Somebody needs to tell Ryan Shawcross that he is not playing rugby. As Jelavic attempts to move into the area, he's tugged to the ground by the Stoke defender. He's rightly booked and Everton are awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal, which Baines smashes straight into the wall. Sums this match up nicely.
CHANCE! It really hasn't been Jelavic's day. After Baines's poor effort from the last free kick, he is given the chance to strike one 20 yards from goal. It beats the wall all ends up, but it grazes the post as it flies wide. Replays show that Begovic actually made a fantastic save, but a goal kick is given.
CHANCE! The away side finally manage to put more than three passes together and it should have resulted in a goal. The end of the move sees Shotton flick the ball into the path of Jerome, who pulls back his right foot. He just needs to show some composure, but he sends his effort flying well over the crossbar.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A double switch for Stoke as former Liverpool players Crouch and Charlie Adam trade places. Also coming on is Kenwyne Jones, who has taken over from Cameron. There is also a change for Everton as goalscorer Mirallas limps off and is replaced by Ross Barkley.
Five minutes to go now and Stoke are beginning to commit more men forward when they are attacking. It does leave them more likely to be hit on the counter-attack, but it's something that they need to risk. There is no point losing without putting up a fight.
BOOKING! Barkley's first involvement of the match is to see yellow for a foul on fellow substitute Adam. To be fair to the Everton youngster, it's harsh because he barely touched the Scotland international.
Stoke have three minutes of stoppage time to rescue themselves a point from this match.
FULL TIME: Everton 1-0 Stoke
It was by no means a match to get you out of your seat, but nobody connected with Everton is going to care too much. They've claimed a crucial three points to keep their European hopes alive. In contrast, Stoke are now looking nervously over their shoulder. Four points is all that separates them and the drop zone.
That's all we have time for from Goodison. Thanks for joining us this evening, much appreciated. Until next time, goodbye.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
