Fantastic comeback ends Palace's unbeaten run

Everton 2 - 1 Crystal Palace

It was Super Sunday in the end for Everton, but only after Crystal Palace had totally dominated the first half at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on the back of a remarkable 19-game unbeaten run by the visitors. But the Blues fought back doggedly in a scrappy second half, winning this difficult game in the end with first a penalty taken superbly by Ndiaye, and then Jack Grealish banging in a blocked Beto header. What a win!

The great reveal, with David Moyes making what could be a crucial choice of who will replace the suspended Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as he looked to inspire an increasingly moribund attacking force to some greater achievements in terms of creating chances and scoring goals.

At long last, Tyler Dibling is given his first Premier League start in an Everton shirt. And Moyes goes with the ineffectual Barry up front but he can't fight his inner pragmatism with the inexplicable nonsense of naming two goalkeepers on the bench. 

First Half

With Palace kicking off, the line-up behind Barry was Grealish left, Ndiaye central, and Dibling right. But Everton could not prevent an early corner after a midfield throw-in from Richards. Pickford had to dive low to clear an early shot from Pino. That was followed by a weaker shot from Mitchell.  

There was little by way of a high press as Everton allowed Palace to run at them Gueye very fortunate not to be called for what looked like a trip. But the Palace free-kick tally was ticking up quickly, although they preferred playing it backwards, and when it did come up field, some fine work from Michael Keane to clear the ball.

Everton got forward, Mykolenko winning a long throw that looked momentarily dangerous. Garner and Gueye tried to build on the left without involving Grealish and soon lost the ball. Ndiaye forced a turnover and fed Grealish who shot too close to Henderson. 

Palace looked threatening and were quickly up the other end, Barry losing a cleared ball. Head tennis from a Palace throw saw Kamada's shot blocked. O'Brien fouled wide right, a deep free-kick ending in a Palace corner that was desperately defended until Everton somehow got a free-kick off Guehi.  

Ndiaye tried to dribble through three players and won a throw-in but A turnover saw Palace forward again before their move broke down. But Everton were slow in trying to break clear of pressing players. But Mykolenko tried a shot from long distance, flying over, a bit of a waste.  

Sarr could not get past Keane on the Everton left but it gave Richards another opportunity for a fantastic long throw, a deflected shot from close range pawed away smartly by Pickford, Blues just about hanging on! 

Everton were really struggling to get Grealish involved, although he was passing the ball off quicker when he did get it. O'Brien found Mykolenko with a deep cross but he was immediately blocked from crossing it in low. 

Pino released Mitchell in acres of space and his shot clipped off the angle. Mykolenko lost the ball cheaply in the return and Palace were right through, a great chance for Mateta, hit hard and low, saved brilliantly by Pickford, who should probably be up 3-0 at this point, Everton were being so outclassed.

Dibling and Grealish connected but the play slowed up and any space was gone. Barry was in strongly on Wharton but no foul, Everton then given the free kick. Grealish was forced to play back by Munoz.  

Grealish got another chance to advance but again came back and played it square. It eventually got to Dibling who cut in and shot but low and weak, easily saved. Everton's defending looked better but a loose ball gave Palace another corner, defended clear for another Richards throw that looked to cause havoc, Tarkowski prodding it away.

Grealish fed the ball back to Garner who put in a fantastic ball to Barry at the far post but he completely missed the ball under pressure from Guehi. It got a bit competitive in midfield, Garner and Guehi.

Both Grealish and Dibling had to drop deep to help out but, as Everton pushed forward, they lost the ball and it was suddenly three against two, Sarr feeding Munoz on his right on full overload with acres to himself, firing low under Pickford. Remarkable that it had taken 37 minutes!

With Palace pushing for a second through some excellent intensity, there was a brief moment where Ndiaye conjured a break but it exposed Barry's incompetence more than anything, him unable to beat his man or play Ndiaye back in. 

Everton got forward and looked to create something, Mykolenko battling valiantly, but it was shockingly poor in comparison, Ndiaye getting the ball but then he was double-teamed with no one bothering to show themselves and help him out. 

And so the half ended, Everton comprehensively outplayed all over the field and very fortunate to be only a goal down. 

Second Half

The Masterful Moyes saw the writing on the wall, Alcaraz and Beto on for Dibling and Barry, Alcaraz playing centrally with Ndiaye on the right. Alcaraz produced a great play through to Ndiaye but for some astounding reason, he failed to shoot, crossing instead to a defender.

But Everton had a much better spell of pressure, Garner picking out O'Brien at the far post but no power in his header. Palace rocking a little, although problems still with Everton's final ball not producing enough. Grealish played Beto in down the left but his cross was impossible for Ndiaye to get to.  

The Blues were at least making a game of it now, but Grealish fouled Wharton as Keane needed attention. Beto showed some great determination to retain possession, albeit in Everton''s half.

But the early intensity after half-time flagged a little and Palace put togther a great move, only stopped by Tarkowski with some tremendous defensive work. But the ball was lost by a tackle form behind on Gana and Palace drove forward, shooting wide.  

Everton tried to play forward again but it wouldn't roll for them and Palace were able to steal it back. Mykolenko and _____ got in a mix-up and allowed Mateta to break free and drove forward, certain to score, but O'Brien got behind Pickford and headed the chipped shot clear. 

Everton from a throw saw two snapshots from Keane, the first blocked, the second going wide.  

But Palace got away, a brillant pass to Sarr, Pickford out to stop him but the ball falling to Mateta who needed t role inside the post but he rolled it wide. Iroegbunam replaced Keane, Garner moving to right-back. 

Alacara zgit forwad and lashed a great shot at goal but Henderson got has hand up to claw it away. Everton took the corner quickly but 

Pino stopped Garner from taking a quick free-kick, Garner tried to push him away, both players booked, followed by David Moyes, everyone was now a bit riled. Everton won a free-kick but Graner's ball to the far post beat everyone. 

A string of contentious decisions broke the game up but a ball in past Beto saw Iroegbunam running inside and Lacroix could only bring him down for a clear penalty. Iliman Ndiaye sent Henderson the wrong way, to a tremendous roar from the South Stand and the rest of the Hill Dickinson stadium -- a massive moment. 

Beto did remarkably well to force a corner, Garner delivering it well but Sarr went down with a head injury after Beto had won the ball. The restart was a drop-ball near the corner flag and it looked to be cleared but Grealish got forward -- his shot needed to be a lot more intelligent though. No good firing straight at Henderson.

Palcw looked to regain control, moving the ball well enough, nut Everton had got the crowd behind them and looked to make the most of the final few minutes. It was end to end with Grealish trying to break through but Mykolenko couldn't beat his marker. 

A long throw from O'Brien, but not enough power for Beto to threaten. Grealish halted Munoz who wanted the Everton player booked, but he got the card instead. Late changes by Glasner broke up any lasting momentum.

Grealish won another throw-in but Everton could not fashion a shot.

Beto got a ball to drop back for Alcaraz who skied his effort. Wharton strode forward and redied to shoot but Garner was across brilliantly with a block. 

The ball got forward for Grealish again but it was only a throw-in. But Everton kept pushing forward, and a tremendous roar greeted the end of an excellent move Alcaraz, playing forward to Ndiaye, Beto attacking his cross with a huge leap and powerful header that was blocked 2 yards out and Jack Grealish was there to smash it into the roof of the Crystal Palace net. 

The last few minutes of added time -- 8 minutes stretched somehow to 13 as Palace got forward again and got another long throw before referee Salisbury finally blew his whistle on a fantastic comeback victory for The Blues.

 

Everton:  Pickford, O’Brien, Mykolenko, Tarkowski, Keane (65' Iroegbunam) Gueye, Garner [Y:68'], Dibling (46' Alcaraz), Grealish, Ndiaye, Barry (46' Beto).

Subs: Travers, King, Coleman, Aznou, N Patterson, McNeil. 

Crystal Palace: Hender son, Munoz [Y:87], Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Kamada (82' Lerma), Wharton [Y:82'], Pino [Y:68'], Mateta (70' Nketiah), Sarr.

Subs: Benitez, Uche, Hughes, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny, Cardines.

Referee: Michael Salisbury

 

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