Blues homing in on 51-year record Goodison run
26 Dec 2013 10:03
Can Everton remain unbeaten at home in 2013?
Just Sunderland and Southampton stand between Everton and a record completed only once in the Blues’ long history.
Between September 6, 1961, when Manchester City triumphed 2-0 on Merseyside, and September 7, 1963 when Burnley edged a seven-goal thriller, Fortress Goodison really was just that.
In front of attendances sometimes approaching 70,000 Everton went two years and a day without losing a home match – a remarkable run of 39 league games, two FA Cup ties, a European Cup visit of Inter Milan – and a Charity Shield.
As a result 1962 became the only calendar year when Everton haven’t lost a home match.
Roberto Martinez’s side can match that calendar year statistic by avoiding defeat in their next two games – but the Blues boss is more concerned at their position at the end of the season.
“That’s not a stat we are focusing on,” he said. “Obviously you want to win every game you go into and the reality is if you get an award or a trophy for doing that then maybe we would consider it.
“But what we want is to finish as high as we can in the table at the end of the season and home form is going to be vital in that.
“But it is something special at Goodison.
“There is a real unity between the fans and the players which helps you get through adversity, through the disappointments and the difficulties which you get in football.
“It’s a big advantage and we don’t want that to change.
“We haven’t reached our full potential and that excites me.
“We are playing at home twice in succession and if you can choose you would do that.
“Obviously our fans have been terrific.
“If I’m not wrong we have two full capacity crowds for the next two games and that’s exactly what we need.
“The two teams we face will make it difficult for us and they will pay us a bit of extra football respect and the patience from the crowd will be vital.
“But we’re fully focused on respecting a team like Sunderland.”
Martinez points to Sunderland’s defeat of title favourites Manchester City as evidence that the Blues cannot afford even a hint of complacency today.
“When you can beat Manchester City in the manner in which they did, you know they are capable of beating anybody.
"I think they are going through a transitional period but that was a phenomenal performance, playing from the back. They can hurt you in possession.”
Source: Echo
