Everton 1 Crystal Palace 1
Sean Dyche’s side welcomed Crystal Palace to Goodison Park with both teams needing points to move themselves away from the relegation fight. Roy Hodgson had stepped down as manager of The Eagles with the club appointing Oliver Glasner as their new coach.
All of this had been announced only hours before this game, after Hodgson had been taken to hospital after falling ill at the training ground the day before. Everyone hopes the veteran manager makes a speedy recovery.
The visitors had the first chance of the evening as Mateta worked the ball to Edouard just inside the box, who fired a shot at goal. It was straight at Pickford and the keeper made a comfortable save. An early warning for The Toffees.
McNeil got down the left wing before putting a cross right on the head of Calvert-Lewin but the striker could not find the target. This is part of the problem for Sean Dyche’s side, they do not have a forward on form at all.
Credit: @Everton
If you were to be put in front of a firing squad and were given one last request, you would not go far wrong asking if Calvert-Lewin could pull the trigger. You would hear the gunshot, look down and check all your body to see no wounds whatsoever.
The Eagles forced another corner and as the ball came in, Mateta met it with his head. The effort seemed to have Pickford beaten but fortunately Young was on the post to sweep the ball away and keep the scores level.
Into the second half and Mateta held the ball up before laying it off to the oncoming Mitchell. He ran through on goal and tried to lift it past the Everton keeper but he made a good block to prevent him. The Toffees were just about holding on.
Dyche’s side forced a corner and Tarkowski met it with a header which was cleared off the line. As Everton tried to direct another shot, it was heading wide of the goal but Doucoure was lurking. Somehow, he almost managed to clear the ball when the replay showed he had an open goal.
Mateta’s physical threat was causing the Everton defence problems. He held the ball up once again, with defenders hanging off him, and laid it off to Ayew. He struck a superb shot from outside the box into the far corner of the goal to give the visitors the lead.
Everton were desperately trying to find an equaliser. As a corner came in, Johnstone came for it and made a complete hash of the attempt. The ball sailed over him and Onana headed home to draw The Toffees level late on in the game.
Credit: @Everton
Dyche’s side were to have one more chance as a free kick was lofted into the box. Tarkowski met it with his head at the back post but put his effort clean over the crossbar. He held his head in his hands, knowing what a huge chance it was to grab all three points.
Both sides took a share of the points, which moved Everton out of the bottom three. Palace are now five points clear of the relegation spots while only goal difference keeps Sean Dyche’s side above Luton Town, who have a game in hand.
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