Everton vs Crystal Palace, match report: Lukaku leveller denies Dann another Merseyside winner

Everton 1 Crystal Palace 1: Everton miss the opportunity to overtake Liverpool in the league standings by drawing

Romelu Lukaku scores the equaliser against Crystal Palace and his 50th goal for Everton (Reuters)

There is a team from Merseyside, which is capable of pressing forcefully, strangulating the challenger’s confidence to the point where they suffocate and pass out.

The team has a robust defence, a sturdy midfield and a threatening striker who is setting new records. Then there is the fast, creative winger whose performance can go some way to justifying the entrance fee.

The team plays in blue not red, they are managed by Roberto Martinez rather than Jürgen Klopp, and though scorelines have been almost as dramatic lately, albeit against lesser opponents, they have quickly made progress quietly, certainly without anything like the commotion of their neighbours.

This is Everton and not Liverpool, of course; a team that nevertheless cannot beat Crystal Palace; Everton being a club, indeed, which really needs to start believing they can achieve something spectacular this season, rather than think it might just be a possibility.

By scoring here, Romelu Lukaku netted his 50th Everton goal in 100 appearances. By delivering the assist, Gerard Deulofeu added to the argument that he is becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in England.

And yet Everton missed the opportunity to overtake Liverpool in the Premier League standings by drawing, a point being enough to maintain Palace’s advantage over both Merseyside clubs, thus taking them into sixth position.

This was an absorbing contest, one that suggests both Everton and Palace should realise this campaign presents an opportunity to break new ground.

Martínez used his programme notes to remind Evertonians that maintaining a positive atmosphere on the terraces is essential if the side are to achieve success. “We are developing a really special team here and like any young group, in order to fulfil our potential, we need good warmth and understanding,” he wrote, in light of their second-half collapse at Bournemouth in their last league game when a two-goal lead led only to a draw rather than a victory.


 Scott Dann, far left, slots the ball past a hapless Tim Howard to give Palace the lead 
 (Getty)

In another interview, Ross Barkley admitted that considering the supposed capacity of Everton’s team, “it would be a waste if we didn’t win something.”

At the weekend, Lukaku had touched on the same issue by telling Belgian media that the difference between his performances for club and country is explained by the freedom afforded to him by Martínez.

The relationship between him and Barkley has been a catalyst for improved results in the last couple of months and it was evident again here; interchange involving the two almost causing the first goal when Lukaku slalomed through Palace’s midfield and defence before hitting the inside of Wayne Hennessey’s right post without going in.

Palace had won at Stamford Bridge and Anfield already this season and since Alan Pardew’s appointment in January have the second best away record in the league behind Arsenal. They had won in each of their last two visits to Goodison Park as well.

Palace’s threat was as obvious and as uncontrollable as it usually has been during all of their recent fixtures on Merseyside, with Yannick Bolasie’s speed and delivery featuring regularly. Their clearest chance in the first half arrived through the familiar route: Bolasie mixing trickery and power before supplying a ferocious cross for Connor Wickham, who had his header palmed away by Tim Howard.

Everton were much the stronger side in the second half. Barkley nodded a header wide when he should have made it 1-0. Wickham flicked Barkley’s free-kick onto his own crossbar. Tom Cleverley had a half-volley tipped over by Hennessey, who needed to use all of his six foot six inch frame to make the save.

Then came what may have been the sucker-punch. Scott Dann rose highest at the other end to thunder in Bolasie’s corner, scoring what seemed to be his second match-winning goal in his hometown in a month following his achievements at Anfield at the beginning of November.

Everton responded, however. Lukaku thudded a shot against the woodwork for a second time with another volley from outside the box and it did not cause the home side to give up.

Deulofeu had confused his marker Pape Souare on numerous occasions throughout the evening with an array of step-overs. This time, it led to something and Lukaku tucked away the equaliser and Goodison began to rock though not enough to bring about a winner.