Everton 1 Brentford 0: Toffees are safe after beating Bees

What a relief that Everton have managed that hat-trick of home wins I had wanted and ensure there will be top flight football in the Grand Old Lady's final campaign.

This was certainly not a vintage performances by any stretch of the imagination but who cares as the job was to win and get over the line as soon as possible, and they did it.

Going into today's match there was always a strong likelihood that this game would be a bit of an anti-climax after Wednesday's huge high, and so it was.

Both sides looked well off the pace at the end of another long hard season with the Blues particularly inevitably looking very leggy and tired as they laboured to get through the match and over the line.

The first half in particular was a real bore fest and there was very little quality on show from either team to be honest.

It had the look and feel of a 0-0 draw before after the ball eventually fell to him in the Brentford box, Idrissa Gueye popped up to score his second goal in a week.

After Ivan Toney had forced a fine save from Jordan Pickford - who has been magnificent again down the stretch - for the rest of the second half Everton were pretty much in control.

And the home side hit the woodwork twice more later on with both Dwight McNeil and James Garner almost adding the comfort that another goal would have given the team.

As the minutes ticked on inevitably it was a very nerve-racking final few moments until at last after a another extra six minutes were added, the referee finally blew up and the Toffees were safe.

Now comes the thinking about the future and how Everton can finally change the negative narrative which has been clinging to the club for far too long.

Because, I've said it so many times and I'll say once more; never, ever again can we endure another season like this one!