A 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules had plunged Everton into the relegation zone and threatened to end its 70-year stay in England’s top division.
The Merseyside club is not out of danger yet but on Thursday climbed above the drop zone with a 3-0 win against Newcastle to underline its determination to battle its way to safety.
“The mentality is key for me. We took a knock, but there have been a lot of knocks here over the last couple of years,” Everton manager Sean Dyche said.
“But the team mentality is growing. I can’t emphasize it enough. The commitment to each other and the connection is a powerful thing because I know we’ve got quality.”
Everton is appealing what was the biggest sporting sanction in Premier League history after it was found to have made losses that exceeded the competition’s profit and financial sustainability rules.
One of English soccer’s most storied clubs, Everton has fallen on hard times in recent years — narrowly avoiding relegation in each of the last two seasons.
That might not have been the case this year, had it not been for the sanctions, having been eight points clear of the bottom three before the deduction.
“Without those 10 points, we’d be in an amazing position — 20 points would be amazing relatively to the last two seasons here,” Dyche said.
Everton has responded impressively to the punishment, winning back-to-back league games.
After beating Nottingham Forest 1-0 on Saturday, goals from Dwight McNeil, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Beto secured victory against a Newcastle team that is hoping to challenge for the top four again this season.