Everton’s Gibson can make the difference

The ex-Manchester United midfilder has suffered an injury-plagued season but hopes he can now stay fit for the ‘business’ end of the season, when the top four places in the English Premier League will be decided.

Supporters are beginning to notice the effect he has on the side. As one blogger - Luke O’Farrell summed up: whether with Man Utd or Everton, Darron Gibson does not lose many matches.

Speaking on the club’s official website, www.evertonfc.com, Gibson said he believes Everton need to take three points from Norwich City on Saturday if they are to keep their Champions League dream alive.

With six points now separating Everton and fourth-place Tottenham, Gibson says a win is vital.

“It’s a big game,” the midfielder said in an exclusive interview with evertontv. “I think if we want to kick on and get fourth place we need a win.

“We’ve got Manchester City and Arsenal coming up in the next few weeks and they’re two massive games as well. I think if we could get three points at Norwich on Saturday it would be a big result.”

While Gibson is becoming a talismanic figure for the Toffees, he admits he longs to get back among the goals - his winner against Manchester City last season remains his only strike for the Blues.

Yet having missed two-and-a-half months before Christmas and then the whole of January because of a thigh problem, avoiding the physio room table is priority number one for the player, who recently endeared himself to the Blue half of Merseyside by sitting among the fans.

Many fans have mentioned the effect Gibson appears to have in conversations on social networking sites.

But blogger Luke O’Farrell has gone further, and compiled compelling statistics which back up the theory that the Londonderry man has a winning effect on teams.

Describing Gibson as going ‘from Manchester United misfit to Merseyside Magician’, O’Farrell has compiled an impressive set of statistics, to be found on the website eplindex.com

O’Farrell says: “The real story lies in his impressive unbeaten record at both clubs. Making a total of 54 league appearances in blue and red, Gibson has tasted defeat just five times. Regardless of any mitigating factors, such as venue or opponent, the bottom line is: Darron Gibson rarely loses football matches – a statistic that Everton fans are starting to notice.

“The results since Gibson’s arrival are testament to his impact. Last season, the Toffees were unbeaten in league matches involving Gibson – 6 wins and 5 draws. With Gibson, Everton won 54.55% of matches, but the figure dropped to a lowly 16.67% when a brief injury sidelined the midfielder – Everton winning just once in six matches without him.”