'It was bedlam at Goodison Park when we stayed up': Former Toffees star Michael Ball recalls Everton's final day survival in 1998 as they once again try to avoid the top-flight drop on the last day of the season

Everton’s last-day escape in 1998 was nearly a painful experience for me in more ways than one — but thankfully we stayed up by the skin of our teeth.

We’d started the game in the bottom three but knew we could overtake Bolton if we got a better result than them. To our advantage, we were at home against Coventry and they had to go to Chelsea.

I’d been brought up a Blue and was absolutely desperate not to be relegated. But during the game I got smashed by a challenge and was left with a hole in my right knee.