Two late quick-fire goals sealed a 2-0 home win for Everton against Crystal Palace, who will rue a missed penalty earlier on in the match.
The first half didn’t cater for too many chances for either side, with Palace impressing in defence as the hosts struggled to break them down. Both sides – through Cheikhou Kouyate and Richarlison respectively – had headed chances, with the Palace midfielder hitting the crossbar with his effort.
The second half saw both sides go for the win a little more, however, it was Palace who had the first real opportunity to get ahead. Wilfried Zaha was brought down in the box by Seamus Coleman and the visitors were awarded a penalty. Luka Milivojević stepped up and despite his excellent penalty record for the Eagles, firing straight down the middle, allowing Jordon Pickford to block it and keep the scores level.
A moment Palace would live to regret when with just four minutes to go, substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin buried a header past Wales number one Wayne Hennesey to put the hosts 1-0 up.
Just moments later, a quick Everton counter found fellow sub, Cenk Tosun who blasted the ball through the legs of the Palace ‘keeper to put the game beyond doubt.
The match finished 2-0 to the Toffees which pushes them into the top half of the table. For Palace, they haven’t won in the Premier League since mid-September and drop down to 15th, just two points above the relegation zone.
Here are five things we learnt in Everton’s late 2-0 win against Crystal Palace.
1. Unhappy Hodgson’s hellish Toffee hoodoo
The Premier League’s oldest manager has achieved a lot in the game and a fair amount in the short time he has been at Selhurst Park.
However, his record away to Everton remains absolutely terrible. Hodgson has faced Everton more than any other opponent in English football and has undoubtedly struggled to best them throughout his long career in management.
His record makes poor reading; eight losses and one draw in the last nine games at Goodison Park.
Not good for Hodgson, not good for Palace but a great read for the hosts.
2. On-form Pickford’s penalty heroics
2 – Everton have had two different substitutes score for them in a Premier League game for the first time since March 2014 (Naismith and Mirallas v Fulham). Decisive. pic.twitter.com/B2NzfpwMgM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 21, 2018
England’s number one didn’t showcase any neat *cough* Cruyff turns this afternoon but did provide a moment to saviour in the Everton net.
After Palace were awarded a second-half penalty, Pickford was able to get his body in the way of a poorly struck Milivojević penalty and keep the Toffees in the match.
He made a few good saves throughout the match – a decent block from Milivojević, this time from a free-kick – and looked commanding throughout the 90 minutes.
3. Set-piece nightmare for Palace
An away trip to Merseyside rarely gifts you too many opportunities so it was vital if Palace got one today, they took it.
After getting a penalty in the second-half, Milivojević failed to convert the spot-kick, ensuring Palace’s set-piece record in the Premier League this season is still as ghastly as ever.
They are the only top-flight side in England to have failed to score from a set-piece so far this season. Compare that with last season’s haul of 17 set-piece finishes and it strongly highlights where Palace are faltering this campaign.
To be honest, Palace’s scoring form this season has been poor, scoring just six goals in nine games. Only Huddersfield have a poorer record than the south-London side.
4. Wickham returns just in time
The talented target man has been out of action for almost two years after picking up a nasty injury away to Swansea City at the back end of 2016. Palace have gone through three managers since Wickham’s absence.
A goal and an assist in the international break for the club in a friendly match against local side Dulwich Hamlet was enough to convince Palace boss Roy Hodgson to include him in the trip north of England’s capital.
With Christian Benteke injured and absent until the end of the year, Jordan Ayew failing to produce the goods so far, and Alexander Sørloth yet to score a league goal in Palace colours, Eagles fans will be praying Wickham can return to regular first-team football as soon as possible.
5. Debut day for Andre Gomes
The Portuguese centre-midfielder finally was introduced to the Everton faithful this afternoon, making his first start for the blue half of Merseyside.
Gomes looked comfortable from the off, calm in possession and always looking to seek out a teammate.
A decent strike in the second-half bent just past Wayne Hennesey’s right-hand post in what was the closest Gomes went to scoring on his debut for Marco Silva’s side.
The post Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace: Five things learned as Hodgson loses v his worst enemy appeared first on Squawka News.
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