The way he took over as Crystal Palace manager was disappointing to say the least, but Oliver Glasner helped Roy Hodgson’s former side earn a valuable draw against struggling Everton at Goodison Park. When they won, they must have seen the team for the first time and got some encouragement. The points and performances were much more helpful to the visitors than Sean Dyche’s hard-working team.
Jordan Ayew gave Palace a strong lead in front of the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager, but Everton substitute Amadou Onana’s late header restored a point to the struggling hosts. The point took Everton out of the relegation zone on goal difference with Luton Town, who have played fewer games, but regardless of the outcome of their appeal against the 10-point deduction, they will need to make significant improvements to stay out of the relegation zone. Dew.
Palace’s new manager was confirmed as Hodgson’s successor just before kick-off, sitting alongside chairman Steve Parish in the director’s box at Goodison. His predecessors, Ray Lewington and Paddy McCarthy, took charge of the match as scheduled after the former England manager fell ill on Friday. The visiting team was switched to a three-man central defence, with Daniel Muoz and Tyrick Mitchell extending Everton as wing-backs.
Glasner’s first impressions of English football were deeply unappealing. Two recent draws between the sides in the FA Cup had dampened hopes of a fourth meeting of the season, but it turned out to be just what they expected. The first half consisted mainly of Everton firing long balls in the direction of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which Palace centre-halves Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen and Chris Richards absorbed with ease. Dyche’s team had no plan B.
Palace’s new manager received words of encouragement regarding the visiting team’s defensive and organizational skills. Palace also had a terrible first half, but they had poor finishing and a goal-line clearance that allowed Everton to take the lead. Odson Edouard was well-positioned in space on the left of the Everton penalty area and fired straight at Jordan Pickford, before Jefferson Lerma cut through an inviting chance from Muñas’ tee-up. Jean-Philippe Mateta almost ended the stalemate with a header at the back post from Adam Wharton’s deep corner, but Ashley Young cleared it on the line.
Everton’s hopes for improvement ahead of the match centered on the return of top scorer Abdoulaye Doucoure, who was playing for only the second time since December 16, the team’s last league win, due to a hamstring injury. Ta. Doucoure volleyed home the home side’s first chance from Ward’s clearance, but otherwise fell into obscurity as he was passed in the air by Dyche. He was involved in Everton’s brightest moment before half-time, firing Dwight McNeil into space on the left and whipping a cross wide despite Calvert-Lewin hitting Richards right in front of him. . It was the end for a striker who had lost confidence after not scoring in 18 games.
To be fair to Everton’s centre-forward, he was too isolated to make any meaningful impact. Calvert-Lewin was expected to not only win the first ball, but also the second ball. It was a tough match and Everton’s lack of quality of possession and tendency to fall back against it proved a severe test for Goodison’s limited patience. One minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half was a small relief.
Interval instructions did not change the pattern of play. Everton continued to waste possession cheaply and Palace remained the more threatening team. Jarrad Branthwaite, who endured a tough night against the powerful Mateta, ran away when he appeared to clip the heel of a forward who entered the penalty area. Mateta took advantage of James Tarkowski’s attention and forced Mitchell into the goal, denying the Everton captain. Pickford deftly got off his line and chested the wing-back’s chip. Wharton again caused problems for the home defense with a corner kick to the back post, and Douard sent an acrobatic overhead kick high into the park end stands.
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The course of the match, and potentially both clubs’ respective relegation battles, appeared to be shaped by two contrasting moments in the space of two minutes midway through the second half. Everton should have taken the lead with Doucoure’s goal, but he found himself behind Ayew’s excellent finishing. Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone contributed to both.
Johnston made a close-range save to prevent Tarkowski from converting McNeil’s corner kick into the goal. The rebound fell to Idrissa Guen Gueye, and the shot crossed the goal, but hit the path of a fellow midfielder who was standing alone at the back post. Doucoure looked taken by surprise, but he squandered a golden opportunity from four yards to go, and his shot lacked power, allowing Johnston to flick the ball safely in front of the line.
Seconds later, the Palace keeper fired a goal kick deep into Everton’s half, which Edouard headed home to Mateta. The French forward held off Branthwaite and new substitute Onana to find Ayew, who slipped forward and sent a powerful drive from outside the box into Pickford’s far corner.
Everton suffered a crushing defeat as Calvert-Lewin headed wide from McNeil’s cross and Johnston pushed James Garner’s shot away. However, McNeil converted the corner and Onana headed over the Palace goalkeeper to score the equalizer from close range.
