Great Gazza as Smith salvages job

Walter Smith enjoyed a much-needed vote of confidence when his Everton board told him he is to be given rare transfer funds. After the 1-0 win at Stoke that could have saved the Scot his job came further backing from the most influential voice in Everton's dressing-room.

Paul Gascoigne was a key figure as Everton stood tall amid the mist and gloom of the Britannia Stadium. Afterwards, the former England midfielder said: 'The manager is a tough man and doesn't want any pity. He wouldn't want anybody saying that we did this for him, but we are pleased for him.

'We have not been up to standard. It is the players who have put us in this position, not him.'

Coming into this game on the back of five League defeats, Smith knew he had to engineer a victory against the leaders of the Second Division if he was to get his hands on the money now offered by chairman Bill Kenwright.

For Smith, receiving backing from the boardroom late last week would have meant nothing if it had not been mirrored on the pitch on Saturday. Gascoigne led a delegation of players to a local paper in Liverpool last week to outline support for the man who has done so much to help the recovering alcoholic through his recent personal problems.

On the field, Gazza's performance was equally emphatic as his assured, accurate passing gave the Everton midfield muchneeded rhythm. Gascoigne added: 'I said to the manager that I was going to have to roll back the years for him. 'I was a bit more determined today because of what he has done for me. Walter is the man for the job.'

Stoke enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to do anything with it, leaving Alan Stubbs to score the winner with a right-footed free-kick early in the second half.