Match Report

Like a number of clubs, Crystal Palace have been woven into the tapestry of Everton’s struggles for survival over the past couple of seasons. In 2021-22, under Rafael Benitez and then Frank Lampard, Selhurst Park was the scene of two particularly ugly defeats and the Eagles were, of course, the opponents at Goodison Park when the Toffees came back from 2-0 down to win one of the most dramatic matches in the club’s history the May before last.

The 3-0 win that Lampard oversaw in October 2022 was the high watermark of the Londoner’s tenure; a deceptively fluid and complete performance that would end up being his last victory as Everton boss.

But it was that harrowing 4-0 defeat in the last eight of the FA Cup in March last year that, when compared to what unfolded in South London today, helps illustrate how far the club has come under Sean Dyche.

The team still may have deficiencies in terms of their use and care of the ball — Everton were abysmal at times in the second half in terms of their ball retention today — and there may have been a feeling they were, perhaps, fortunate to have come away with all three points (given how open they were in midfield at times and how much possession they ceded to Roy Hodgson’s side), but in terms of mentality and unity of purpose, it’s night and day from the day Lampard questioned whether his charges had the “bollocks” for the fight in front of them.

Everton twice lost the lead today but on both occasions, they regrouped, rose to the challenge and got their noses back in front. On the third occasion, they locked it down and secured the points, delivered in wholly unexpected fashion by Idrissa Gueye.

The Senegalese midfielder’s wayward shooting and lack of goalscoring prowess has become something of a running joke among Evertonians but this afternoon he played his part in a rapier-like move in the 86th minute, collecting a perfectly-weighted return pass from Abdoulaye Doucouré before finishing with a motion more evocative of his sliding tackles in his own half than a Premier League marksman.

Doucouré himself had demonstrated again his ability to be in the right place at the right time when he restored early in the first half a lead originally given to the visitors by another unlikely goalscoring hero in the form of Vitalii Mykolenko.

The Ukrainian got the chance to spread one of those endearing, almost child-like smiles across his face with less than a minute on the clock when he popped up in the six-yard box to score his second goal in as many games. Palace may have taken the gloss off his moment almost straight away by wiping out the lead but Mykolenko and his team-mates had the last laugh in the end.

Dyche had made one change to the team that started against Brighton last weekend, recalling Amadou Onana, who had missed out against the Seagulls with a calf problem. The Belgian would only last 45 minutes, though, and made way for the eventual match-winner at the start of the second half.

By then, both teams had got onto the score sheet inside five minutes, with Everton finding the net before 60 seconds had elapsed, making them the club to have scored more goals in the first minute of a match in Premier League history. After Mykolenko’s initial shot had been charged down, Doucouré laid the loose ball wide to Jack Harrison to clip a teasing ball into the six-yard box where the Ukrainian arrived to gleefully head home his second goal in a week.

The response from Hodgson’s side was immediate, however, and when Eberechi Eze, who was a handful throughout, danced his way into the area and drew contact from Jarrad Branthwaite’s out-stretched foot, referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot.

Eze placed his shot wide of Pickford who had remained central trying to fake the winger out and it was 1-1 with five minutes gone.

Both sides then had spells of pressure as Dwight McNeil deposited a volley into the arms of Sam Johnstone off Ashley Young’s deep cross and Dominic Calvert-Lewin was denied a headed chance by attentive defending by Joel Ward.

Eze thought he had won a second penalty midway through the first half when he skinned Onana along the byline and initially appeared to be caught by Branthwaite’s trailing foot but the Palace man was booked for diving instead and Video Assistant Referee, Andy Madley, saw no clear and obvious error in the decision.

James Garner then narrowly missed with a scuffed shot from 20 yards and, at the other end, Tarkowski’s tackle denied Odsonne Edouard who had raced onto Eze’s clever dummy.

With the final action of the first half, Eze was involved again as he threaded Edouard in once more and Jordan Pickford spilled the striker’s shot before Tarkowski knocked it behind for safety.

The second period was less than four minutes old before Everton struck again. Marc Guehi had put the ball behind for a corner that eventually fell to Mykolenko on the edge of the box. The defender’s volley, reminiscent of his strike against Leicester 18 months ago, was deserving of another goal but when it came back off the base of the post, Doucouré was played onside by Jefferson Lerma and on hand to side-foot the rebound home.

Again the hosts tried to respond straight away and it took a good save from Pickford to beat away Eze’s powerful drive from the angle while a mix-up between Gueye and Mykolenko almost resulted in an own goal.

Branthwaite had recovered from a shaky start and he put in a terrific saving tackle to deny Edouard in the 62nd minute before Lerma spurned a gilt-edged chance to level things up again when he placed his shot wide of goal from 20 yards.

Palace only had to wait another eight minutes, though, and it came from a mix-up between Pickford and Tarkowski. Assuming that his keeper had a ball over the top from Eze covered, the defender allowed it to bounce behind him where Edouard stole in to bang it home from close range.

The Eagles’ tails were up but Everton weren’t to be denied. Gueye collected a pass inside from near the right touchline and fed Doucouré. The Frenchman held his pass until he’d spotted the Senegal international’s run and played him in superbly where Gueye took a touch before sweeping it past Johnstone to make it 3-2. The last time he'd scored for the Toffees, Sam Allardyce was in charge.

Beto, on as a substitute for Calvert-Lewin, could have killed it in stoppage time but smashed a shot across goal from an acute angle and Michael Olise wasted the hosts’ last chance to try and force the ball home from a set-piece when he spooned a free-kick into the stand behind Pickford’s goal.

Everton won only two matches away from home in the entirety of last season; this term, they have already notched three in the League and will probably feel as though they should have won at Sheffield United in September as well. They’ve also now won seven of their last 12 games in all competitions, a sign that the Dyche revolution is very much on track, with confidence in the ranks growing all the time.

And if another marker were needed to prove the effect the former Burnley boss is having, Evertonians need only cast their minds back to almost exactly a year ago when, having twice lost in the worst way at Bournemouth, it felt like a very bleak winter was ahead.

This time, the team and fans as a collective might well be relishing what lies on the other side of the international break and a tricky-looking December beyond. Where before lay trepidation, now there is opportunity. Quite the transformation…

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton scored early but kept ceding possession to a hugely competitive Crystal Palace. However, go-ahead goals from Doucoure then Gana, who finally scored an excellent goal, sealed a tremendous end-to-end victory for the travelling Blues.

Both Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite were considered fit to play in the starting XI for today's game at Selhurst Park, with Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli still out injured. 

Young is preferred to Patterson, but Gana is on the bench. 

James Garner got the game under way with Everton in their silver grey change kit. And Everton were ahead with the home side hardly touching the ball, Harrisson crossing and a superb leaping header from Mykolenko bulging the Palace net after he had just had a shot blocked!

Tarkowski had to be careful with a late tackle on Schlupp. But Eze skipped into the Everton area and Branthwaite's trailing leg appeared to trip him, hardly any contact, but the referee was adamant and the VAR did not go against him. Eze himself rolled the ball in after fooling Pickford with his protracted stutter-step. 1-1 inside 5 minutes!

Ayew and Doucoure ran into each other and needed treatment. Everton then got a corner that Johnstone punched clear.  The game settled down a little, both defences having been breached very early on.

Palace tried to release Ayew down the Everton left but Mykolenko got in front of him and stole the ball well. However, the home side were starting to dominate possession with Everton concentrating on the low block, while Palace players swarmed the Everton penalty area, forcing some great blocks, and a great defensive header behind by Tarkowski. 

Everton eventually got forward, Young crossing deep to McNeil at the far post but he sidefooted the ball straight to Johnstone. Mykolenko and McNeil had to double up on Ayew and it led to a swift move and cross in to Calvert-Lewin who was on the wrong side of defender Ward. Another teasing cross from Harrison flew over everyone, and McNeil then crossed in low but Calvert-Lewin was behind the defenders again. 

Ayew was given too much space again and got the ball to Eze who jinked in along the byeline and tumbled when Branthhwaite challenged him again, clearly catching his right foot.  But the ref was convinced Eze had dived, showing him a yellow card, and incredibly the VAR didn't reverse this clear and obvious error, backing the referee's decision that there had been no foul.  Everton and especially Branthwaite escape – he needs to be a lot more careful in his tackles!

Everton tried to build another attack but couldn't get any clean movement, Garner eventually firing wide. Eze bamboozled Branthwaite again but failed to shoot and instead crossed too far in front of Edouard and Everton escaped again. 

Tarkowski dispossessed Edouard who went down for a third penalty claim to Palace, also not given. Edouard got behind the Everton backline and advanced on goal. Tarkowski came in brilliantly to dispossess him again before he could shoot. The VAR would have called him offside if Edouard had scored. 

Everton got a wide free-kick that reached Tarkowski at the far post but he could do little with the ball. Young then played in Harrison down the right who crossed too close to Johnstone yet again. 

Everton were building play well around the Palace area but the ball in from McNeil was eschewed by Calvert-Lewin who just did not attack it. McNeil tried to drive through two defenders and lost the ball. 

Palace then had a spell in attack as the pendulum of this one swung back and forth, but Everton's defence seemed to be better organised. However, their passing when in possession left a little to be desired.

Edouard got forward again and Pickford had to get out of his area quickly to clear without handling as the linesman's flag finally went up for offside. 

Garner and Eze competed for a ball as they ran into the Palace area, Garner feeling a touch and going down but the touch was in the dee and the referee was in any case unmoved. Doucoure saw yellow for a silly gesture to deny Palace the ball at a free kick. 

Edouard finally was onside and shot low at Pickford, Tarkowski giving away the corner. Branthwaite then had to head behind for another Palace corner, caught by Pickford as the referee blew for wrestling in the area. 

A really open, lively and entertaining half with surprisingly few direct chances on goal after the crazy start. All to play for in the second half.

Gana replaced Onana, who had been invisible in the first half, after the break. The open play continued with Mykolenko eventually doing well to force a corner. Gana thankfully mishit his cross/shot and Mykolenko volleyed a tremendous shot onto the post, with Docucoure there to follow up with a tap-in, not offside. 

Eze got through and lashed a shot goalward but Pickford saved well and Everton scrambled the ball clear eventually as the Everton contingent in the crowd heartily bellowed out Spirit of the Blues. Palace recycled their attack, Branthwaite putting the ball behind for a corner before Tarowski got a boot in the face. 

It was Everton's turn to build some attacks but they broke down with a rather harshly called Calvert-Lewin foul. Everton were getting better at anticipating the line-breaking Palace run, but greater danger came from Gana and Mykolenko competing with eachother to beat Pickford for an own goal! Dreadful miscommunication at the far post!

But yet again, Edouard got through and it needed a brilliant tackle from Branthwaite without bringing him down. But Palace continued to work their attacks around a resolute Everton defence now under increasing pressure, a real test again of the Dyche-ball philosophy that was breached last week. 

Edouard was again thwarted by Branthwaite but was able to tee up Lerma who sidefooted wide as Olise came on for the home side. Everton had to again maintain the low block as Palace circled, Olise lashing his deflected shot over, with Pickford then gathering the corner.

With rare Everton possession, Young was again wasteful with his aimless balls down the right wing and possession ended with a foul by Gana. Palace kept probing and Branthwaite headed clear but Mitchell headed it back in Edourad who danced in behind Trakowski to score. Que the VAR forensic analysis of a possible offside, which did not look likely and the goal was finally confirmed. 

Palace now had the momentum and Mykolenko was soon forced to give up another corner that bobbled around before Pickford could claim it. But Everton were now repeatedly giving the ball away to Palace and inviting yet more pressure, Olise skipping around Mykolenko. 

Young gave away another corner, cleared by Tarkowski.  Everton finally countered and Beto was fouled by Geuhi for a deep free-kick from the right that McNeil looped in but nothing came of it and Palace swarmed forward, causing havoc and panic in the Everton area, cleared by Gana. 

With time ticking away in the last 10 minutes, Everton's unsubtle hoof-ball was easily countered. But they forced a turnover and Beto almost controlled the ball.

Then it came back in with a tremendous throughball from Doucoure found Gana who stretched to power the ball in at the corner, a superb strike for the normally hopeless non-goalscorer. Onana apparently got booked for running on the field to join the celebrations. 

Harrison was this time released by Young and then fouled but not according to the referee. Garner, probably annoyed by this body-checked Ayew and saw yellow. Patterson replaced Young as 8 minutes were added. 

A Palace free-kick was cleared, then Tarkowski headed away the cross. But the ball kept coming back into the Everton area, and Branthwaite forced to clear a powerful cross behind.  A brief respite followed the cleared corner but Everton did not want to get stretched and the ball was again and again played back to a Palace player. 

A deep free kick was battled for by Harrison who fed Beto but he took an extra touch and the angle was too fine for his shot past the far post. More attacking play from Palace, more solid defence from Everton with the ball just booted upfield back to Palace. 

Mykolenko had to rugby-tackle Olise, earning Everton's fourth yellow card, for yet another dangerous free-kick, Olise lashing Palace's final chance over everyone and everything. Poor Roy Hodgson has not beaten Everton in 14 attempts since 2011. 

Crystal Palace: Johnstone, Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell, Hughes (89' Ahamada), Lerma, Ayew, Eze [Y:24'], Schlupp (67' Olise), Edouard (83' Mateta).

Subs not Used: Holding, Matheus Franca, Clyne, Richards, Doucoure, Matthews.

Everton: Pickford, Young (90' Patterson), Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko [Y:90+7'], Onana [Y:86'] (46' Gana), Garner [Y:89'],  Doucouré [Y:45+2'], Harrison, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (77' Beto).

Subs not Used:  Virginia, Keane, Godfrey, Chermiti, Danjuma, Dobbin.

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Everton head south this weekend for a third successive Premier League away game in the Capital as they take on Crystal Palace.

The Blues beat Brentford in September, vanquished West Ham a fortnight ago and would notch a hat-trick of wins over London clubs if they can win at Selhurst Park for the first time since September 2020.

Then, under Carlo Ancelotti when departed stars Richarlison and with James Rodriguez wearing Everton jerseys, they won 2-1, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin opening the scoring. They lost twice there the following season under Rafael Benitez and Frank Lampard but ground out a goalless draw with Dyche at the helm last April.

The Toffees' No.9 bagged the winner at the London Stadium but didn't register in either the Carabao Cup win over Burnley or the draw with Brighton last time out so he will, no doubt, be itching to get back among the goals.

Sean Dyche will see how both Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite fare in training on Friday before deciding on his starting XI. 

The Belgium international was forced to sit out of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Brighton having played the last few matches with a tight calf but has returned to full training.

Branthwaite, meanwhile, picked up what the manager described as a "knock", presumably against the Seagulls, and will also be assessed during the final training session at Finch Farm while Abdoulaye Doucouré is hoping to shake off a bout of illness.

"We have a couple of knocks with Amadou and Jarrad's got a  bit of a knock," Dyche said in his press conference today. "But we're not expecting too many problems. Doucs had a bit of sickness but they've all been on the grass today so we're hopeful on them.    

"[Onana] has managed that well. He's done well to get through the games that he [has done]. Hopefully we've managed that well as well and [the injury] has calmed down. 

Seamus Coleman came through another hour of reserve team action earlier this week and is not yet sufficiently match-fit to start but he will be hoping that a place on the bench could be imminent. 

Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, will be without forward Michael Olise who isn't likely to return until after the international break because of a thigh problem; likewise James Tomkinson who has a calf issue. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who also have thigh injuries, are also ruled out with no projected return date.

Usually a difficult proposition in front of their rowdy home fans, Palace have only won once at home so far this season, that a 3-2 win over Wolves in early September. Two of their main danger men were on the scoresheet that day – Odsonne Edouard scored a brace and Eberechi Eze, who this week signed a new contract with the Eagles, nabbed what proved to be the winner.

They sat in 7th place that day but, having been held to goalless draws by Fulham and Nottingham Forest and then beaten by Tottenham on their home patch, Palace have slipped to 11th. 

Having seen how his charges performed in their last two games on the road, Dyche will be confident Everton can get something out of this game to take back to Merseyside, particularly if he can name a full-strength side with Onana and Branthwaite included.

Kick-off: 3 pm, Saturday 11 November 2023
Referee: Sam Barrott
VAR: Andy Madley
Last Time:  Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onana, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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