Sean Dyche may have just helped Everton turn around. Photo: Reuters/Peter Ciborra
Sean Dyche will not celebrate his first anniversary as Everton manager until the end of January. But after a fourth win in six league games and a third away win in four, his values have taken root. Right now, unlike a month ago, a decrease of 12 points does not necessarily mean a demotion.
“We are seeing signs of a turnaround,” Dyche said. “Football gives you money back. It was unfathomable that after the way we played we didn't win our first three home games. I believe that if you stick to your principles and continue to do the right thing, balance will come. We work very hard and the work ethic brings out the essence of the team. We are looking for different ways to win.”
Saturday's triumph was “Dychian” in excellent performance. Everton fell back twice but still won with just 38 per cent of possession in a pulsating game. And as with Dyche's Burnley – albeit with a superior squad for the most part – this team is struggling, and in a competition where they had eight shots to Palace's 13 and two corners to Palace's nine, they fought for victory. “Playing in places like this raised question marks against Everton,” Dyche said. “We're starting to change that mentality.”
In fact, Everton took the lead in the opening seconds when Abdoulaye Doucouré spotted the crossing Jack Harrison, who crossed to the back post, where Vitaly Mykolenko beat Joel Ward to score his own second goal in two games.
Vitaly Mykolenko opened the scoring at Selhurst Park. Photo: Getty Images/Tom Dulat
Palace's Eberechi Eze ruled the roost arbitrarily in the first half as Everton struggled to contain Palace's dissent. His run gave Palace their first goal, an equalizer after being clipped by Jarrad Branthwaite. Eze scored a penalty.
Dyche responded by introducing Idris Gueye at half-time, the only casualty of last week's home draw with Brighton. Ostensibly, Gueye's role was to shackle Ez, but in how the planets align for those with momentum, Gueye had much more to contribute. Indeed, he won the game for Everton. Gueye's mistake on one side of the penalty area led to Mikolenko's fall on the other. Mikolenko's volley shook the post. Doucouré knocked down the loose ball.
Palace equalized for the second time when Jefferson Lerma headed in from the edge of the area. Inexplicably, James Tarkowski ducked, allowing Odsonne Edouard to slip past the flamboyant Jordan Pickford.
The course of the match brought victory to Everton, and Gueye was his inspiration and trigger. He moved forward and found Abdoulaye, whose wonderful return pass destroyed the Palace defence. With one superb touch of his right foot, Gueye prepared to curl a left-foot winner through Tyreek Mitchell's legs and past Sam Johnstone for the Senegalese international's first Everton goal since a trip to Huddersfield Town in 2018.
Meanwhile.
Meanwhile, despite their best efforts, Palace created few chances and Roy Hodgson's bid to win the Premier League against Everton for the first time since Yusuf Mulumbu's May 2011 victory West Bromwich Albion continues. “I’m sad and upset,” he lamented.
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