Stuart McCall is determined to add to the frustration of close friend Walter
Smith on Saturday as he attempts to make amends for one of the most embarrassing
performances of his career.
Bradford midfielder McCall returns to his former haunt of Goodison Park with
the aim of erasing from memory the humiliating 4-0 loss to Everton a year ago.
As a former Toffees hero, having spent three seasons with the club from 1998
to 1991 in which time he made more than 100 appearances, it was a display he was
ashamed to be associated with.
Bradford were scrapping for their Premiership lives at the time, but on that
day the Bantams simply appeared to throw in the towel as relegation beckoned.
After surviving that scare, City are again on the brink of dropping into the
Nationwide League as they are currently 14 points adrift with only 15 up for
grabs - which means defeat at the hands of Smith will seal their fate.
Successive 2-0 victories over Charlton and Derby have only staved off the
seemingly inevitable, but at least Bradford are going down fighting.
Now McCall wants to see more of that fight against his old club, who would
continue to teeter on the brink themselves if they lost to Bradford.
"People were talking about us going down at the weekend, but after winning
our previous two games they now think we can win the last five to stay up!"
commented a stunned McCall.
"But the lads are resigned to going out of the Premiership. As much as we
love playing at this level, it has been tough. Up until a few weeks ago we were
struggling to win a corner never mind a match.
"In many respects I'm looking forward to playing in the Nationwide League
again - if I'm still here - just so we can get into that habit of winning
matches.
"But we've played some good stuff in the last two games and if we can beat
Everton then it keeps our run going and puts a bit of pressure on them.
"To be honest, I just want to put in a better performance than we did last
season at Everton - both on a personal level and as a team.
"We went there knowing we needed something from the game to help us stay up,
but we just didn't perform and we got turned over 4-0.
"It was embarrassing and disappointing. It still rankles with me because at
that stage there was still so much at stake.
"I would just like to go back and put in the kind of performance like those
in our last two matches."
Victory would increase the pressure on Smith, who has come under fire from
fans in recent weeks as Everton have continued to slide towards the relegation
zone.
McCall, who skippered the Rangers side during his seven years at Ibrox when
Smith reigned supreme in Scotland, added: "I feel for him at the moment and the
pressure he is under. He is taking some fearful stick.
"But I maintain, and I have said it a million times, he is the best manager
I've ever worked with and if I do carry on in football I hope to take a lot of
his attributes with me.
"I spoke to him recently and he was telling me of the frustration he is
experiencing because of all the injuries, particularly to his forward line.
"But I'm sure they're safe this season and hopefully he will be able to build
for the future and take the club back towards the top."
McCall, who turns 37 in June, looks certain to stay at Bradford for next
season despite the recent squad clear out by manager Jim Jefferies - but then he
is likely to call it a day.
"I've had a number of chats with the gaffer and he wants me to stay and I
want to stay," added McCall.
"I know I'm not getting any younger so next season will probably be my last,
so it would be nice to finish off in a good way by helping the team to bounce
straight back."
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