Martinez sees big Black Cats threat
Everton manager Roberto Martinez is wary of the danger a relegation-threatened Sunderland pose - because he was in their position many times when in charge at Wigan.
The Spaniard enjoyed a number of escapes with the Latics, memorably on the final day of the in 2010/11 campaign when they won at Stoke and even more remarkably the following season when they won seven of their last nine matches, including victories over Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
In comparison tomorrow's visitors Sunderland, a point from safety with four to play, may have an easier task, which is why Martinez is taking nothing for granted.
"You see light at the end of the tunnel," said the Spaniard of his own experiences in avoiding the drop at this time of year.
"It is not just having a fear of getting relegated, it is more knowing what you have to do to achieve your aim.
"The way to see whether the team is doing that is when the team start playing games not the occasion.
"In the final two performances I have seen the win against Southampton was a very solid performance and draw at Stoke shows the mindset is perfect.
"I think the experience of Dick Advocaat in situations has taken the pressure out of the players and allowed them to play.
"I think we faced Aston Villa in a very similar position where they felt very confident and face every game with a belief they can win.
"I expect Sunderland to show the same approach."
Everton defender Luke Garbutt returns to the squad after a bout of tonsillitis but will only be a substitute. Midfielder Steven Pienaar misses a fourth successive match as he is still not ready to come back from a muscle injury.
Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson (both broken metatarsals) and defender Tony Hibbert are the other long-term absentees.
Advocaat does not care what relegation rivals Newcastle, Leicester and Hull do as the quartet attempt to dig themselves out of trouble.
The current Barclays Premier League table suggests those three clubs will be battling over the remaining weeks of the season to avoid being the team which joins Burnley and QPR - who are in even greater danger - in next season's Sky Bet Championship.
The Black Cats are currently in the bottom three, but just a point behind Hull and Leicester - who visit the Stadium of Light next weekend - and two shy of the Magpies.
But Advocaat, whose side have a game in hand on the others - albeit away at Arsenal ahead of a final day trip to Chelsea - has challenged his players to keep their fate in their own hands as they head for Everton on Saturday.
The 67-year-old said: "I don't care at all. I only care about our club. I don't care about Newcastle or Hull or whatever.
"We have to do it by ourselves and not look too much to other teams. We have to do it on the pitch and show them what we want.
"That's the most important thing - but everybody is counting only the first two games. They are important, but we still have two games to play against Arsenal and Chelsea as well.
"Everybody is counting those already as nothing, and I don't see why."
Advocaat will be without skipper John O'Shea on Merseyside as the former Manchester United man, who had not missed a single minute of the campaign until injury intervened during the win over the Saints, sits out with a rib problem, while B#10million signing Jack Rodwell has succumbed to a hamstring strain.
But striker Steven Fletcher is back in contention following his ankle injury, and defender Wes Brown makes a timely return to the squad for the first time since damaging a knee back in March.
Source: PAR
