Everton’s win over Crystal Palace yesterday was far from faultless, but it is the renowned mark of a good team that can dig out results despite underperforming.
So often Manchester United would claim victories under Sir Alex Ferguson that they had no right to do so, and even nowadays the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City do so despite the ease with which they win most matches.
So, for the Toffees to travel to Selhurst Park, score three goals and come away with all three points despite struggling, is unprecedented in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche has achieved the unthinkable across just nine months in the Goodison Park dugout, with their eight-point gap from the drop zone a visual showcase of such progress.
However, the 52-year-old was actually left somewhat disappointed with one moment in particular, which he would vocalise following the match.
Speaking to the BBC, he gave his thoughts on the hosts’ opener, and the manner in which it was conceded: ‘You have a lapse of concentration, we allowed them to dance into the box. It’s a loose leg and he goes down and it’s given. You’re really frustrated by that. We had to calm down in the first half and second half we defended really well.’
Did Everton deserve to beat Crystal Palace?
Deserving to beat another team can be a rather subjective claim to make, given that statistics very often do not paint the picture of how a game went.
After all, in Everton’s recent clash with Brighton and Hove Albion, despite boasting 80% of the ball, the visitors had to rely on a wicked deflection to score their only goal of the game, whilst the Toffees managed more shots on target.
So, to see the Eagles enjoy 67% of the ball yesterday means relatively little in the grand scheme of things.
However, they were far more decisive than the Seagulls, and did manage to forge two big chances, putting four shots on target too. It was often them forcing the issue, and threatening at times.
And yet, in the end, Dyche’s resolute backline stood relatively form, with only a couple of defensive hiccups allowing them to get back into the clash before Idrissa Gueye scored the winner. Although, it could be argued that his teammate was the true star…
The visitors were good value for their win, with each goal well-worked and those conceded easily avoidable.
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