Ross Barkley scored a dramatic late winner for Everton against Swansea to fire the Toffees into the Premier League top four.
The England international beat Gerhard Tremmel in the 85th minute with a curling free-kick from the right hand side of the box to help Everton extend their unbeaten Premier League run into double figures and ensure Roberto Martinez's men go into Christmas just two points behind Liverpool at the summit of the table.
The goal was Barkley's third of the season, and speaking after the game the Everton youngster admitted that after going close earlier in the game, the overriding emotion was was one of reprieve.
He said: "It was definitely a feeling of relief because I had a chance to score with 20 minutes to go and I've slipped, so to see my free-kick go in was it was a bonus - and great for the team to get three points as well.
"I told [Romelu] Lukuku to leave it because I've seen the goal and thought 'I'm going to score this'.
"I don't really practice free-kicks, but without [Leighton] Baines on the pitch I thought it was my chance to have a go."
Rickie Lambert and Adam Lallana were both on target in the day's early kick-off
Also speaking after the game, Barkley's Everton and England team-mate Phil Jagielka was full of praise for the determination and desire shown by the 20-year-old.
"He slipped over and he was probably thinking it wasn't going to be his day," added Jagielka.
"But five minutes later he takes a dribble and smashed a shot with his left foot which the keeper struggles to keep out and it hits the bar - then obviously he was brave enough to step up and take the responsibility from a free-kick and thankfully he did.
"It was a big game for us. Everyone around us has won. We were probably a little bit fortunate to come away with the three points but it's the sign of a good team."
Asked whether he felt the Toffees have what it takes to maintain their position throughout the second half of the season, Jagielka was in bullish mood.
"We're equipped well enough, time will tell," he added.
"It's a very tight top eight and our main objective is to obviously keep plugging along and if we can keep ourselves in the top four as long as possible then it's going to be an exciting season."
Elsewhere on Sunday Southampton's England duo Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert were both on target for the Saints, but were unable to prevent a 3-2 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur - who left the south coast with all three points thanks to an Emmanuel Adebayor brace and an own goal from Jos Hooiveld.
In the weekend's final fixture, Chelsea travel to Arsenal on Monday night with the victors knowing they will sit top - or joint top - at Christmas.
