The verdict as Jack Grealish's stoppage time winner saw Everton come from behind to beat Crystal Palace
ECHO Everton reporter Chris Beesley has covered Everton and Liverpool both in the Premier League and abroad since 2005. He cut his teeth in professional sports journalism at the Ellesmere Port Pioneer and then the Welsh edition of the Daily Post, where he also covered Manchester United. Prior to that he worked on the student newspaper Pluto at the University of Central Lancashire, a role in which he first encountered David Moyes. Chris is well-known for his sartorial elegance and the aforementioned Scottish manager once enquired of him at a press conference: "Is that your dad's suit you've got on?" while the tradition continued in 2023 with new Blues boss Sean Dyche complimenting him on his smart appearance.
Jack Grealish's winner sparked jubilant scenes
Jack Grealish's winner sparked jubilant scenes(Image: Getty Images)
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Before this game, Everton manager David Moyes revealed that he’d told Jack Grealish he wanted him to shoot more but surely even the Blues boss wasn’t expecting a moment like this.
The on-loan star netted a stoppage time winner to complete a dramatic comeback for his side and stop Crystal Palace extending their unbeaten run to 20 matches.
It was a simple instruction but in truth this game hinged just as much on a second half sliding doors flashpoint which exemplified another Moyes request and could go down in Everton folklore alongside Phil Neville’s bone-crunching challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo in front of the Bullens Road Stand during the Glaswegian gaffer’s first spell in charge.
When Everton moved from their home for the past 133 years, to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer, Moyes said he wanted them to bring “the soul” of Goodison Park with them and while their previous ground was affectionately known by fans as “The Grand Old Lady,” she was more belligerent battleaxe that sweet grandmother and hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Blues fans are often galvanised into life when a decision angers them and the momentum in this game turned when Palace’s Yeremy Pino refused to withdraw when the hosts had a free-kick by the centre circle.
David Moyes was booked for his protests
David Moyes was booked for his protests(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Both James Garner – who shoved the Palace man – and manager Moyes, got a yellow card for their troubles but Everton got their cue for a comeback. It had all seemed so unlikely as the Blues were largely overrun for over an hour by their opponents who possessed the confidence of a side who hadn’t lost a game since April and had triumphed away at West Ham United and Dynamo Kyiv, plus inflicting the first of what has proven to be a hat-trick over reversals upon reigning Premier League champions Liverpool, prompting a hearty blast of Guy Mitchell on the P.A. system here.
“We’re gonna win the league,” sang the Crystal Palace fans in the first half and while followers of the Eagles might have been somewhat tongue in cheek with their claims, they were rightly enjoying a ride which has seen them lift the FA Cup – their first major trophy – and Community Shield this year, bringing an inaugural European tour, even if it is now in UEFA’s tertiary tournament, the Conference League after off-the-field wranglings over John Textor’s dual ownership with French side Olympique Lyonnais. But that’s not to be sniffed at, just look at the glorious night the competition brought their London rivals West Ham United in 2023 and their then manager Moyes who landed the first silverware of his long career.
With Adam Wharton pulling the strings in midfield, Oliver Glasner’s men dominated proceedings in the first half, as Jordan Pickford had to showcase his ability to deny Pino, Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta with a string of smart saves.
Pickford, who was making his 300th Premier League appearance for the Blues has arguably done more than any individual player to ensure they arrived by the waterfront with their top flight status intact but during that eight-year spell he has also been first choice for his country, yet here when fans sang: “England’s number one,” it was the visiting supporters who were bigging up Dean Henderson, one of the pretenders to the former Sunderland man’s Three Lions throne.
Ironically, Palace broke the deadlock shortly after Everton had their best opportunity as striker Thierno Barry was unable to get on the end of an inviting cross from James Garner, but in truth the goal at the other end had been coming.
The Blues’ defence part like waves on the Mersey for Ismaila Sarr to run towards goal and he picked out the overlapping Daniel Munoz with a smart pass for the Colombian to fire past Pickford with 37 minutes on the clock. Everton required a spark of inspiration from somewhere and after a lacklustre opening, Moyes responded by making a double substitution at half-time and replacing Barry and teenager Tyler Dibling – the club’s most expensive signing of the summer who was making his first Premier League start – with Beto and Charly Alcaraz entering the fray.
The pair off the bench, who had combined to score the goals when these sides last met at Selhurst Park in February, when the visitors triumphed 2-1, provided some added impetus for the home side, especially the Argentinian who had been the star in Croydon and looked lively here once introduced, running at opponents and picking a pass.
However, things still had to get worse before they got better for Everton and Jake O’Brien was the last man when he headed a dinked goal-bound effort from Mateta away against his former club and the big French striker was left to rue a shot that went wide at the back post after Sarr had carved open the home rearguard that lost Michael Keane, their most consistent defender this season so far, to injury soon afterwards.
The Blues survived though and spurred on by their anger, both on and off the pitch, they triumphed against adversity. Referee Michael Salisbury had a straightforward decision to award the hosts a penalty on 76 minutes when Maxence Lacroix brought down substitute Tim Iroegbunam in the area and Iliman Ndiaye was the coolest person among over 51,000 in the stadium when he rolled the ball into the net and sent Dean Henderson the wrong way.
The stunning comeback was completed three minutes into the allotted eight extra as Beto’s header was saved by Henderson but among the hectic goalmouth scramble, Munoz touched the loose ball onto Grealish’s boot for Hill Dickinson Stadium to erupt. Everton’s incredible new base has always looked the part, but it needed a day like this to truly feel like home and rather than Palace moving up to second spot and the hosts being in the bottom half, the Blues now go into the international break just a point behind them in the table.