Palace went into this tough away fixture buoyed by three consecutive wins against an impressive looking Everton side managed by Ronald Koeman who was desperate to rectify matters after their defeat to Bournemouth last time out.
A positive was that referee Mark ‘all about me’ Clattenburg had been replaced due to illness by the seemingly overweight John Moss prior to kick off.
This game was spiced up by the anticipation of seeing our former wing wizard Yannick Bolasie who left Palace in the summer for a club record transfer fee. It was also Belgium against Belgium in the striking department with Romelu Lukaku facing off with our very own Christian Benteke.
It was encouraging to see that finally Eagles boss Alan Pardew had seen what a majority of us have been saying for a while now, and dropped Yohan Cabaye to the bench to make way for fan favourite Wilfried Zaha following injury. Hallelujah!
Goodison Park had been a happy hunting ground for Palace in recent seasons so I was hoping this would continue.
It was a game where we really could of done with our captain Scott Dann, who was once again missing due to a hamstring injury picked up in the EFL Cup defeat to Southampton. Irishman Damien Delaney again took up the captaincy mantle in his absence. Other than the inclusion of Zaha, it was the same side that started in the victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light last time out.
The hosts began on the front foot showing a great deal of urgency as they looked to make an instant impact through the lively Lukaku, Bolasie and Ross Barkley. There was a fear that it was going to be a long shift as Palace struggled to contain their attacking threat with Bolasie clearly pumped to face his former team mates. Joel Ward was handed the task by Pardew of stifling the enigmatic winger which he did very well.
Slowly but surely, Palace appeared to settle more as the game went on and started to pose their own threat on the counter and from set pieces where Benteke always looking dangerous and causing a nuisance for the Toffees defence. Wilfried Zaha was doing likewise particularly for full back Bryan Oviedo.
Ward was stepping up to his responsibility of marking Bolasie by using all his experience and knowledge of the wing man in keeping his danger to a minimum with a tenacious performance.
Delaney was having a good solid game at the back and obviously aware that Dann was not far away from returning from his injury, such is the competition for places at the club that you need to perform to an expected level, showing just how far the club has come as a Premier League force.
Unfortunately for Delaney, his high boot on Phil Jagielka just outside the area resulted in Moss awarding a free kick despite the home defender clearly handling which went unseen by the officials.
Lukaku stood over the ball as Palace formed a wall in a dangerous position. The Belgian striker hit a sublime left foot effort over the Palace wall and into the top right hand corner of the net.
It was a fabulous free kick giving Steve Mandanda little chance, but questions were asked why the wall did not jump to make Lukaku’s task more difficult. It was much to the frustration of Mandanda who made his feelings known to his team mates vocally. He was livid. Delaney took full responsibility for the decision not to jump in a post match interview, stating it was his call to make the wall stay rigid. Had the wall jumped, Joe Ledley may well have got something on the ball, but it happened. It felt cruel as the free kick probably should not have even been awarded.
Half time and Palace went in trailing to the controversial goal but with all to play for in the second half. Neither side made any changes at the break and it was Palace who stepped up a gear, coming out the blocks full of purpose and revved up. Pardew had sent his troops out full of determination to rectify this slender score line.
It did not take long for the Eagles to get their just reward when target man Benteke, assisted by a wonderful ball floated into the eighteen yard box by the impressive Joel Ward, headed a perfect header into the net past the stranded Maarten Stekelenburg in the Everton goal.
Game on and no more than Palace deserved for their attacking poise and purpose, showing signs of resilience once again. It looked like Pardew was beginning to get that old team spirit back that has got us so far in previous seasons.
The Eagles continued to take the game to Everton who struggled to cope with the constant threat that the resurgent visitors were showing.
The pressing almost paid off when it seemed Palace had got themselves the lead. A corner from Jason Puncheon was cleared by Bolasie which only found Ward. Once again the full back fired in a sublime ball into the area which was met by the head of Delaney, directing it past the past the helpless Stekelenburg. Cue pandemonium in the away end …..but wait, the linesman had flagged. Offside? It was unclear for a moment but James McArthur motioned towards the ball which in the officials opinion was intentional and effected the goalkeepers concentration. No goal! A very harsh and confusing decision, in my opinion the goal should of stood. Palace had every right to feel aggrieved.
Palace carried on regardless and did not let the controversial decision deter them as they continued to look impressive and the better team as the half went on, looking the more likely of the two teams to snatch a winner. It was in fact turning into a great spectacle with attack after attack, both teams looking intent on scoring the decisive goal.
Having a quiet match from his standards, McArthur was still all over the pitch such is the engine on the man.
Less than half an hour left to play, a real heart in the mouth moment when a corner for Everton taken by Barkley was met by Gareth Barry who saw his flicked header cleared off the line by Puncheon. Thankfully, Palace had taken the decision to place him on the goal line on this occasion.
It took until the a little under fifteen minutes left to play when the first substitution of the game took place for the hosts. Pardew opted for his first replacement soon after as a tiring McArthur made way for Cabaye. I remember thinking it would be typical if we lose this game now that the Frenchman had arrived on the scene, we look a much weaker unit when he is on the field and still cannot see what he actually gives us.
As the game headed to a conclusion, Chung-yong Lee replaced Andros Townsend which continued his record of playing a part in every game so far this season.
A fair result in what was a tough test for the Eagles. It was a test they passed admirably and once again shows how far Palace have come when you come away from a fixture against a club like Everton at Goodison Park feeling disappointed not to have taken all three points.
Unbeaten now in five Premier League matches, the Eagles are looking better and better with every passing week. Benteke looks every bit of the player many hoped he would be and it would be no surprise to see him getting twenty goals this season. A real quality player and looks like justifying our huge outlay for his services.
Ward had his best game of the season and did a real job on his former team mate Bolasie, many suggesting on social media that he must remember to take him out of his pocket later in the evening!
After the international break, Palace welcome struggling West Ham United to Selhurst Park, a game that many, including myself, cannot wait for.
1 comment
The ‘goal’ was clearly offside. A clear attempt was made to head the ball with the shot, which is interfering with play.
Comments are closed.