From My Seat: Crystal Palace (A)

Not the best of games yet in many ways a thriller and to take the three points was priceless. Although we did revert to the agricultural at times some decent stuff was also played and I thought we looked better for it. The burning question now is can we kick on and what will the managers preferred style of play be. I just hope he gets it right.

Off to the Palace after the embarrassment that was West Brom on a cold and windy day made worse by no matter how you travelled hold ups were around every corner or so it seemed. Many a tale of woe was told and even those on the free bus complained.

Teams announced and the main talking point being that after Martinez had said McCarthy was fully fit and training fully with the 'Group' was left at home. What is the point of press conferences when hardly a word of truth is forthcoming?

Don't dare ask about incomings or out goings in January as that involves ten minutes of flannel. Clubs say the fans are the most important people, do you believe that? And what about those fans without season tickets who rang for Derby tickets as soon as the date arrived only to be told that non available as they had all been reserved. Then asked what does that mean if they are just on general sale today? Only to be told corporate people have reserved them for their people. So much for loyal fans who can't afford season tickets and what impact does it have on segregation and security.

We did kick off and attacked the home end and within a minute we had scored. Stones from his half advanced and played a superb through ball for Naismith to latch onto and make ground and fire hard and low across goal for the sliding Lukaku to score. It happened that quick it took quite e few seconds for the travelling faithful to get voices in gear. From the restart we had at least four minutes of absolute mayhem as the Palace attacked and we somehow or other thwarted them by means of last ditch tackles, blocks, saves and getting anything between ball and goal. Jags spectacularly cleared one from the goal line that looked for all the world it was in so thank god for goal-line technology. From one of these attacks a cross ball into our box resulted in a heading dual between Coleman and Chamakh with the Palace man coming of the worse and being stretchered off to be replaced by Jordan Mutch who had done for Mirallas when he played for QPR at our place.

We saw out the initial pressure from the hosts and did attack spasmodically. From one of these Lukaku got free in the right channel and made good ground and laid back a pass for Naismith who although in a good position had to take the chance early and skied it. Shame that. Both teams attacked and Palace more often than us and from one of these Puncheon had a good shot toward the corner of the net pushed away well by a sprawling Robles for a corner which we cleared after a couple of awkward moments. Then Robles received a back pass that he miss-hit as he slipped but no Palace player could capitalise, we were a bit lucky there.

Just after the 40-min mark we got Lukaku going down the right channel and he cut in with menace only to apply a heavy touch and the ball was away from him, a chance lost I thought. The half continued with the Palace having the most attacks but we survived them and broke when we could. 5 mins added time came up due to the earlier injury and I found myself hoping to hang on and get in all square and have a chat about how we would go about the second half. It's terrible to have to think like that but in our position points are paramount.

H/T and the chat is centred on what the manager might do second half to combat some of the set balls causing such mayhem in our box. The fear factor is deffo with the fans but they were roaring the lads on to stand firm.

Second half started with the game on a knife edge and players and fans alike having one thing in mind. "They shall not pass." This led to a right dodgy 20 odd minutes as we had to defend doggedly and on the odd occasion we did get forward the attack always seemed to peter out but I was no more than hoping that our defending would hold up and get to that 20-min mark with a clean sheet, we did that then the next goal was to manage the next 25 mins in 10-minute chunks, stay solid and collect the points. Not pretty but essential in our position.

By the 70th minute, Pardew had used all his subs and we had introduced Oviedo for Mirallas, probably to protect his hamstring for the derby, Mirallas had an in and out sort of game, if only that lad could deliver his good stuff on a consistent basis. With Pardew using all his subs it left our manager in a good position to see how they were forming and knowing that no other changes in personnel could be made would know what he was up against could get instructions on to see us through. I noticed Ledley had gone to left back in their reshuffle so I was hoping for McGeady to try him out for pace, mind you we had to get the ball to McGeady first.

75 mins came up and we still on track and with Stones and Jags heading, kicking, blocking and sliding our keeper was not seriously being troubled and what did come in at height it was nice to see the big man pull them out of the evening air. The fans were doing their bit, Allez-Allez O rang out loud and proud so a quick look at the clock told me just 15more mins plus added to see out. McGeady at last got the ball and raced passed Ledley and in on goal pulling the ball from the by-line across the face and the incoming missile that was Lukaku just failed to make contact. That was close and a second goal for us now you felt would settle it.

10 mins to go, squeaky bum time. Palace attack and get down our end wide and a high cross comes in that the yellow giant plucks from the air at a height that no attacker can reach. Then Oviedo booked, Robles warned for time wasting, they have most of the ball but we break when we can but the football being played is of the nervous kind and as the clock ticks down you get that excruciatingly tense tingly feeling with involuntary movement of legs as we kick every ball. We did have a little spell that ate up some time with a good joined up move of many passes that eventually ended when the ball ran away from Naismith and out for a goal kick.

We attacked again and won a corner, 5mins left, take your time was heard from many a pair of strong lungs, we did but the corner was only partially cleared and McGeady pounced turned inside and set off a left footer aimed at the far corner but their keeper got a hand to it and that was the end of that. We then saw Naismith and Lukaku break quickly and Naismith fed in Lukaku one on one but his shot although hit with venom lacked direction an only troubled the side netting, he should have done better.

3 mins left and Palace get a free kick in a dangerous area but they waste it much to our relief. I am kicking every ball again as tension among us Blues is at breaking point. 1 min to go and Lukaku gets in a header and Oviedo hits hard and wide. Hell 4 mins added goes up on the board — anyone got a blood pressure monitor — as amid mayhem Lukaku is replaced by Kone. They reckon this bloke can hold the ball up well and boy do we need that now and indeed he made a good job of the minutes he was on the pitch. A Palace man makes a mistake and lets in McGeady but he made a right 'cats' of whatever he was trying to do and that chance passed.

My watch says less than two mins, Fans roaring "Everton, Everton, Everton" showing encouragement in shed loads as we pass the 4-min mark. Whistles ring out now and at last it was over, three points and a clean sheet and we protected a one goal lead for 102 mins. We won with grit, fight, blood and guts so did Martinez realise we are not Barca? Do you know I think he may have done?

MotM – Stones/Jags/Barry

Not the best of games yet in many ways a thriller and to take the three points was priceless. Although we did revert to the agricultural at times some decent stuff was also played and I thought we looked better for it. The burning question now is can we kick on and what will the managers preferred style of play be. I just hope he gets it right.

Sterner tests ahead starting with the derby and on paper away banker but a Derby is never like that so best wait and see on that one. Best not to bet on those games. I am still sticking with my unscientific method of predicting where we will finish by not looking at a league table until late November and early December and this season it tells me we will be between 8th and 12th. Not wonderful but better than many are predicting. We will see come May.

See you Saturday night. Let's get Goodison rocking.

UP THE BLUES

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