Everton played host to Cardiff City at Goodison Park this afternoon with both sides needing the three points for different reasons.
The home side broke the deadlock during the second half through Gerard Deulofeu, but when Juan Cala drew the visitors level, it seemed as though the spoils were going to be shared.
However, deep into stoppage time full-back Seamus Coleman saw his scuffed effort float into the net to seal a 2-1 win for Everton.
You can find out how the match unfolded with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon all. So, after a depleted programme last weekend due to the FA Cup quarter-finals, the Premier League is back with a full compliment of fixtures. Here, we will be covering a clash between two sides at different ends of the table - Everton and Cardiff City.
Before we look a bit more deeper into this clash, the team news from Goodison Park has just been released. Let's begin with the home team's starting lineup...
EVERTON XI: Howard; Baines, Distin, Stones, Coleman; Deulofeu, McCarthy, Barry, Osman, Mirallas; Lukaku
EVERTON SUBS: Robles, McGeady, Naismith, Barkley, Garbutt, Alcaraz, Browning
The big news for Everton is that centre-back and captain Phil Jagielka is still missing with a hamstring complaint. As a result, youngster John Stones will continue in defence, while there is also a place on the wing for Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu. Elsewhere, the fit-again Romelu Lukaku will start his first Premier League game since making a recovery from an ankle complaint.
The big news for Everton is that their skipper Phil Jagielka is still missing because of a hamstring complaint, which in turn means that youngster John Stones will continue to deputise at centre-back. Elsewhere, Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu has been given a wide role, while the fit-again Romelu Lukaku will start his first Premier League match since recovering from an ankle complaint.
And now for the visitors...
CARDIFF XI: Marshall, John, Caulker, Cala, Theophile-Catherine; Fabio, Medel, Kim, Noone, Mutch; Campbell
CARDIFF SUBS: Lewis, Whittingham, Jones, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Daehli, Zaha
An interesting selection from Cardiff boss Solskjaer, who it appears will deploy Fabio da Silva as a winger. The likes of Jordan Mutch and Craig Noone have also been rewarded with starting roles following recent impressive performances off the bench. Meanwhile, former Manchester United youngster Fraizer Campbell will feature as a lone centre-forward.
It seems that Cardiff's official Twitter page is also thinking in the same regards about Fabio:
Staying with Cardiff, here is what Solskjaer had to say during the week about his team's survival chances: "It will take everything we have got to get where we want. That will give us the reward we all crave, playing in the Premier League.
"It is a vital period. We believe, we hope that we have turned a corner in terms of belief and performances. We are still in with a shout. The pressure is not off but a result like we had does do something to the whole club, to the team, to the players, everyone around."
In all honesty, Cardiff's status as a Premier League side will not be determined by matches like today. After all, they are the big underdogs and anything that they claim here would be looked upon as a real bonus. Having said that, three points today could lift them out of the relegation zone, so it's not an encounter that they can just write off.
For that to happen, Cardiff would need to avoid defeat and hope that either West Bromwich Albion or Crystal Palace are beaten. For the record, West Brom travel to Stoke, while Palace are away at fellow strugglers Sunderland.
And what of Everton? Last week they were disappointed to have exited the FA Cup at the hands of Arsenal, so a victory would lift any gloom at Goodison Park. In terms of a Champions League place, they are 11 points behind the Gunners, albeit with a game in hand, which just goes to highlight how much of a must-win encounter this one is for Roberto Martinez's team.
Discussing this match during a recent press conference, Martinez insisted that he would not allow any complacency to creep into his playing ranks: "I know exactly how Cardiff are feeling and the way they are fighting for every point. They have a confidence after their result against Fulham.
"We know that we will face a side who were unfortunate not to get a positive result at White Hart Lane. They fight for each other and are a strong unit. We will have to be at our best."
So, what does previous meetings tell us about who is the more likely to win this match? Well, there isn't much to separate them. Of the 35 encounters, Everton have won 13 to Cardiff's 12, with the other 10 contests ending in draws. Of course, Cardiff's prolonged absence from the top flight meant that before this season, these two had not faced each other since 1979.
Just moments ago, visiting boss Solskjaer spoke with Sky Sports News. Here's some of what he had to say: "When you get results, that is all that matters. There has been a different spirit this week. Everton have been really good at home, but then again, if you can get something out of a game like this, it's a massive boost. We've not had any momentum going, but if we win today we will."
As for Martinez, he had this to say to Sky Sports News: "We know it's going to be a really difficult game and we need to set a good tempo. It's an exciting time. We've got 11 finals and we've got a terrific amount of points. Today we are facing a Cardiff side that will provide strong opposition. I've seen them since Ole arrived, they are trying to play and it's only a matter of time before they click."
PREDICTION: Right, with under 10 minutes now until we get started, let's have a go at predicting the outcome of this clash. All logic would point to an Everton win and you won't find any arguments here. Cardiff will try to play football, which will suit the Toffees, who like to keep the ball on the floor themselves. They have the superior players and providing that they perform well, they will win. Let's go for 2-0 victory, with Lukaku claiming both goals.
The players are now making their way on to the pitch. There is a good atmosphere building inside Goodison Park, which is probably being helped by the pleasant weather that most of the country is enjoying. Not long now until we get underway.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Goodison Park, with hosting Everton attacking from right to left during the first half.
SAVE! It's been all Everton so far and they've just gone ever so close to taking the lead. Kevin Mirallas turns inside Steven Caulker and then curls his shot goalwards. The ball appears to be heading for the bottom corner, but Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall sticks out a hand to divert the effort wide. Then, from the resultant corner, a rebound off Lukaku flies over.
More Everton pressure as neat play between Leon Osman and Leighton Baines forces a corner, which is met by Gareth Barry. The midfielder cannot make a clean contact, though, and Marshall is able to hold with ease.
Some good news for Cardiff because Swansea have opened the scoring against West Brom. If the scores stay as they are, Cardiff will move out of the relegation zone.
More Everton pressure and it's the lively Mirallas that is causing the problems. This time he pops up on the left wing and crosses in low, but Lukaku is crowded out by the Cardiff defence and the ball skids away from danger.
Cardiff have forced a couple of corners and free kicks deep inside the Everton half, but they are yet to work Tim Howard in the home goal. You get the feeling that if Cardiff are going to score, it's going to be from a situation like that.
You've got to feel sorry for Campbell because's he just used great pace to get beyond McCarthy and Stones, but when he crossed from the byline, not one Cardiff player had got themselves in the Everton area. They've got to get more support to the lone striker otherwise it is going to be a very long afternoon for him.
CHANCE! Great defending from Cala as he slides in bravely to block Mirallas's shot after he was picked out by a low cross from Coleman. The Belgian has been Everton's major threat so far today.
SAVE! First piece of action for Howard and he did very well indeed. Campbell's pace gets him away from the Everton defence and he does everything right with a low shot across Howard. The American, though, sticks out his leg and is able to thwart the danger. Nevertheless, it's much better from Cardiff.
SAVE! Meanwhile, up the other end, Mirallas again tries his luck, but there is not much power in his effort from the edge of the area and Marshall is afforded enough time to get down to tip the ball wide of the target.
SAVE! Marshall really is earning his wages today. Lukaku picks up possession midway inside the Cardiff half and with the visiting defence backing off, he goes for goal from some 25 yards out. There is plenty of swerve on his strike, but the Cardiff keeper shows great athleticism to push the ball over the top for a corner, which comes to nothing.
As the break approaches, Cardiff will be content with their performance. They haven't created too much and Marshall has been called into action on a number of occasions, but they are level.
BOOKING! The first booking of the afternoon goes to Cardiff defender Theophile-Catherine and that is a rash challenge on Barry, who needs treatment. He was so late on the Everton player and is lucky that the punishment wasn't more severe. Meanwhile, two minutes of stoppage time will be played.
HALF TIME: EVERTON 0-0 CARDIFF
So, there goes the whistle and despite their domination, Everton are being held by Cardiff at Goodison Park after 45 minutes.
Home boss Martinez is bound to have mixed feelings at the moment. His side have been tidy in possession and carved out a handful of chances, but they haven't made the most of them. In their defence, they have come up against a keeper in very good form. In terms of the second half, Martinez will probably ask his side to keep producing what they have been and hope that they are able to finally get the better of Marshall.
As for Solskjaer, he will know this his Cardiff team had to ride their luck during that half. Having said that, they did create a couple of promising openings, one of which Campbell should perhaps have done better with. If you offered him a 0-0 draw right now, he would probably take it so don't expect much change to the way that the Bluebirds will play after the restart.
If a change to either side is going to be made, the most likely one is surely Ross Barkley coming on for Everton. Barry was actually limping as the two sides went in at the break so it's a substitution that may happen sooner rather than later.
RESTART! No changes from either team then as Everton get us back underway at Goodison Park.
Bright start from Everton as Lukaku looks to turn the ball goalwards following a scramble inside the Cardiff area, but Cala does well to block. Then, Cardiff venture forward, with Campbell forcing Howard to make a save at his near post.
To be fair to Cardiff, they've started this second half extremely well. They are committing more men forward, which is giving the Everton rearguard something to defend against. It seems that Solskjaer fancies his team's chances of getting a win from this clash.
SUBSTITUTION: The first alteration of the match is being made by Cardiff and it is Mutch that is going off. He's been replaced by Peter Whittingham.
BOOKINGS! It's a yellow card apiece for Osman and Medel as the opposing midfielders squared up to each other in the centre of midfield. Not too sure what that was over, but it's quickly difused.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-0 CARDIFF (DEULOFEU)
It was either going to take something special or a slice of luck to beat Marshall today and it is indeed the latter of those two. Credit to Deulofeu because he drove into the Cardiff box with a positive run, but his shot would have been comfortably stopped by the Cardiff keeper had it not deflected off Cala and crept inside the near post. That's a real sucker punch for the away side because they had started the second half well.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A change for both teams and it's the goalscorer Deulofeu that exits the action. He has been replaced by Steven Naismith, while Aiden McGeady has come on for Mirallas. There has also been an alteration for Cardiff, with the ineffective Noone coming off and Daehli coming om.
There now has to be a point where Cardiff have to go for a goal, otherwise they are going to lose here without having putt up much of a fight. That could involve bringing on the physical presence of Kenwyne Jones up front.
GOAL! EVERTON 1-1 CARDIFF (CALA)
Well, I didn't see that coming! It's a great delivery into the area from substitute Whittingham, which is floated into the path of Cala. The unmarked defender manages to rearrange his feet just in time to flick the ball into the bottom corner of Howard's net from close range. Goodison Park has been silenced apart from the travelling fans.
CHANCE! Almost an immediate reply from Everton as they break with pace. The ball eventually lands at the feet of Osman 10 yards from goal, but with the goal at his mercy, he fires wide of the target.
Cardiff really have grown in confidence since the goal and it's annoying the home supporters, who are starting to jeer misplaced passes from their team. Moments later, Cardiff striker Campbell goes into the book for a late challenge on Stones.
SUBSTITUTION: Last switch from Cardiff boss Solskjaer and it's a bold one. He's taken off Fabio and thrown on the attack-minded Wilfried Zaha. The Norwegian clearly wants to return to Wales with all three points.
SAVE! Another smart stop from Marshall, who on this occasion reads the deflection that comes from Lukaku's shot. Even so, it appeared that the ball was rolling into the bottom corner, only for Cardiff's Scottish keeper to throw himself to his right to palm clear the danger. What a performance this has been from the man with the gloves.
Almost an embarrassing moment for Everton youngster Stones as he he fails to control the ball 20 yards from his own goal, which lets in Zaha. However, Stones shows good pace to atone for his error and make a last-ditch block when a goal looked inevitable.
SUBSTITUTION: Final roll of the dice for Everton and it's Barkley that has been sent on to win the game, taking the place of Osman.
Time is running out for Everton and right now it doesn't look like they have too many ideas. There is still a little bit of time left, but Cardiff look comfortable.
There will be four minutes of stoppage time for one of these sides to find a winning goal.
Everton have a corner, which Baines will take...
SAVE!...But once again Marshall comes to Cardiff's rescue. Barkley scampers to the near post to meet Baines's cross, but his header is pushed away by the visiting keeper. Everton are applying a lot of pressure right now.
GOAL! EVERTON 2-1 CARDIFF (COLEMAN)
Heartbreaking stuff for Marshall and Cardiff. McGeady crosses to the back post for Barry, who heads the ball back into the path of Coleman. The full-back completely scuffs his shot, but it floats over a helpless Marshall and beats the two defenders on the line. He's certainly scored better goals for Everton this season, but none will have been this important!
FULL TIME: EVERTON 2-1 CARDIFF
Solskjaer and his players look crestfallen as the final whistle is blown. They've lost when it looked certain that they had claimed a share of the spoils. They are now three points from safety, while Everton have moved above Manchester United into sixth place thanks to Coleman's late intervention.
That is all we have time for following a dramatic 90 minutes at Goodison Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.
