Warren Barton

The defender-turned-pundit reflects on that emotional final day of the season in 1994 when his Wimbledon team put Everton through the mill at Goodison, with the Toffees coming back from 2-0 down to win and survive the drop

- Mike Taylor

The Great Escape, one of the best comebacks of all-time, the most important game in Everton’s Premier League history.

The Blues’ sensational 3-2 win over Wimbledon on 7 May 1994 has been dubbed many things over the years. The raw tension followed by an outpouring of relief at the full-time whistle was undoubtedly one of the most dramatic games Goodison Park has ever witnessed.

Facing the Dons on the final weekend of the 1993/94 season, Mike Walker’s men were staring down the barrel of relegation when they shipped two goals inside the first 21 minutes in a match they simply had to win.

But Graham Stuart’s brace and Barry Horne’s swerving long-range effort turned the game on its head and preserved Everton’s top-flight status.

Warren Barton lined up for Joe Kinnear’s “Crazy Gang” and, despite being on the wrong end of the result, admits he has vivid memories of that fateful afternoon.

“We knew at the time it was such a huge game for Everton,” he reflects. “I remember the nerves among the players in the tunnel and then the huge roar as we came out onto the pitch. The Everton players looked like they were feeling the pressure of the situation, which was obviously a boost for us. We, on the other hand, were comfortable as we knew we were safe in the top six, so we could go and enjoy the game.