Stottie

As if Stoke have anything to play for.

There were thirty odd injuries in a crush at the Leppings Lane end at a Cup semifinal in 1981. I think they were Spurs fans. The FA reacted by taking semifinals away from Hillsborough. During the mid eighties, that terrace was divided into pens with fences. The safety certificate was never reviewed and it was assumed that the police would direct fans into the respective pens. For whatever reason, the FA decided to use Hillsborough again and the police apparently did direct fans into the pens as agreed. Until 1989 that is, when the senior officers were changed.

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2016/04/26/everton-salutes-hillsborough-families Nice one Everton. Really well done.

It sounds like justice is being done at long last. Yes to the question whether the fans were unlawfully killed. No to the question whether the fans' behaviour contributed to the disaster. I reckon the vast majority of match-going fans in the 1980s knew the police and authorities were lying all along. The fans died that day because of criminal negligence that was covered up all the way up to senior government. The way fans were treated back then, it could have happened to any team's supporters.

Four of Sunderland's seven wins came with a goal or an assist from a man now in prison. He got them a draw at Anfield too.

Yeah, what an idiot. Liverpool got 86 points that season, beat Man U home and away, and only failed to win the league because Man U won something like 22 out of 24 games against the bottom 12. That season is the greatest example of a league winner failing in big games but being completely ruthless in all the others. Do that and "six pointers" don't matter.

Norwich have only scored six in their last seven games, including the three against us in one game. I can't see them finishing ahead of both the mackems and us. Not with Arsenal and Man U up next. The mackems have been very tight at the back of late. They've not been scoring many though, Norwich game aside. For all Arsenal's fraility, them kicking into gear when fourth is involved is a bigger trend than Sunderland miraculously escaping every year. In the above predictions, Stoke are imploding and don't have Butland, their talisman for much of the season. We'd have beaten them at home if it weren't for him. I think that's Sunderland's easiest game. Pray for a homer ref.

I didn't see Liverpool's Dortmund game where they came back from the dead second half, but the way they played yesterday, I thought there was no way they could keep that level of intensity up for 90 minutes. Their players were going hell for leather everywhere first half. The commentators said that they've lost 17 points from winning positions this season, and I wonder if simple tiring, or not having a gameplan for tiring players has anything to do with it. Tiring or not, it would be over at 2-0 Liverpool against many teams, including us for most of this season, so great fightback and let's hope Arsenal do the business for us today and next week.

Fathead has been relegated before, at Notts County, so that line they keep repeating about him is tripe. He was there nearly half the season. We've left it late, but we're still in it and just have to give it our best and hope things go our way in the other games. Whatever happens, Rafa has rejuvenated the club to a barely believable degree. Massive respect to him.

Still in it!

FT 2-2

Shoot man Shelvey!

Shelvey on for Tiote.

Both teams look knackered.

Four goals off four shots on target so far....

Cisse off so no two up top

MITRO TIME!

That'll be first time time Colback has been in the opposition box all season.

THE GINGE!

Phew. Offside goal for them.

They're looking ragged at the back

Cisse man!

Mignolet strikes again!

Cisse offside, but good move.

Their pressing is great, but that shouldn't stop us putting a decent set piece in.