Career Dynamics:Shaping futures(IITJEE AIEEE)
It has been a strange season for Everton but they are still in with a chance of claiming a top-six finish and look decent value to beat Blackburn on Saturday.
The Toffees started slowly under David Moyes this term, as has been the case in a number of recent campaigns under the Scot, and their lack of a prolific striker has once again hurt the Merseyside club.
No Toffee has bagged more than nine Premier League goals to date, Tim Cahill leads the way, but Everton remain tough to beat and haven't lost a top flight game at Goodison since November.
That defeat was a 4-1 reversal at the hands of West Brom when Everton were struggling but they have really picked up since the turn of the year and are now unbeaten in six Premier League matches. Only Arsenal lie ahead of Moyes' men in the form table and there was plenty to like about their 3-0 win at Wolves last time out.
Two stunning strikes, from the unusual sources of captain Phil Neville and Russian Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, were the highlights in that success at Molineux and all of a sudden the goals are flowing for Everton.
The signing of Jermaine Beckford from Leeds United in the summer was criticised by many but the striker notched again on the weekend and he has performed with credit when called upon in the continued absence of the crocked Louis Saha.
A win for Everton on Saturday would take them momentarily just one point adrift of rivals Liverpool and, with the Anfield club Emirates-bound 24 hours later, the battle for local bragging rights remains competitive entering the closing weeks of the season.
Europa League football next term looks unlikely for either but Moyes will be keen to finish on a high and a maximum haul against struggling Rovers is well within Everton's grasp.
Just three points above the relegation zone, Blackburn fans can be forgiven for lamenting the new owner's decision to replace Sam Allardyce with assistant Steve Kean in December and it is going to be a worrying few weeks for the Ewood Park faithful.
Three consecutive draws have steadied the ship somewhat for Kean but the loss this week of influential captain Ryan Nelsen for the remainder of the season through injury could prove crucial in their bid to beat the drop and the fact remains Blackburn have not won since mid-January.
Were that trend to continue then surely Championship football beckons in August and it is hard to see where the next three points are coming from for Saturday's visitors. Blackburn were dogged in a goalless draw at Arsenal in their penultimate fixture but they lack quality going forward and I don't see them troubling Tim Howard's goal too often.
The FA Cup semi-finals will hog the headlines this weekend, both are being staged at Wembley, but the pair look priced accordingly and Everton are the value. I have them closer to the 1/2 mark than the prices being quoted and VC Bet's 7/10 will do nicely.
