Brighton's stalemate with Everton has West Brom and Fulham needing snookers

With the lucrative Premier League prize money dependent on final league positions, it almost begs the question will the time honoured ‘traditional end of season fare’ actually become obsolete as clubs will scrap for every point until the final whistle of the 38th league game?

Initially judging by the content of the first hour of this game, clearly not. As this game, despite Brighton not yet being mathematically safe and Everton still very much battling for a shot at European football in the post Covid world, had all the hallmarks of two teams already on the beaches of the various holiday destinations for the discerning EPL footballer.

Arguably it did get better in the last half hour, but not for the first time this season Albion’s poor finishing in front of goal stopped them achieving back to back home victories for the first time since November 2019.

The formerly under achieving Leandro Trossard, but now enjoying a halcyon second half of the season both domestically and for Belgium, almost broke the deadlock on 81 but his sweetly hit free kick was pushed round the post by Everton keeper Robin Olsen.

At the other end sub Alex Iwobi, shot inches over the bar on 90 minutes denying Everton the biggest robbery since Bruce Reynolds and co stopped the train.

In the end it was honours even, taking into account events elsewhere and on this showing, both Fulham or West Brom will require snookers to catch Brighton and Everton will probably enjoy more success in Europe next season if they turn their efforts to songwriting.

Perhaps a ballad “Nearly but not quite” based on this 90 minutes might be the answer?