Everton player ratings as Dwight McNeil the hero and one other excellent

Chris Beesley rates the Everton players after the Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Goodison Park

Everton player ratings as Dwight McNeil the hero and one other excellent vs Crystal Palace

Bookmark

Everton recorded a welcome first Premier League win of Goodison Park’s final season for manager Sean Dyche to cap a positive week on and off the pitch for the Blues, following the announcement of a takeover deal with the Friedkin Group on Monday.

Despite Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi putting the visitors ahead from close range just 10 minutes into the contest, Everton came from behind to secure victory in a Premier League game for the first time under Dyche as a Dwight McNeil brace inspired a second half comeback as he equalised two minutes after the restart with a spectacular strike from outside the area, before firing in what proved to be the winner with a well-timed finish from close range seven minutes later.

Here's how the ECHO rated the players:

Jordan Pickford 6

Provided more assurance in the second half by coming for some crosses and claiming them although he won’t have been happy to have been beaten at close range by his England team-mate from the European Championship, Marc Guehi as Crystal Palace caused problems through his preference to stay on his line.

Ashley Young 7

Two assists in as many matches from the full-back as he fed McNeil for his equaliser after earlier making a crucial clearance in his six-yard box as Crystal Palace exploited Pickford’s reluctance to come off his line for crosses.

Vitalii Mykolenko 6

A welcome return for the squad’s only orthodox left-back but his positioning was sometimes a bit loose. He fashioned Everton’s first shot of note but the damage had already been done at the other end as he and Tarkowski both failed to pick up Guehi.

James Tarkowski 6

Started to look more like his usual dominant self after the break although Everton’s captain needed assert himself more for Crystal Palace’s goal as, after Lacroix won the back post header, he allowed Marc Guehi to nip in between himself and Vitalii Mykolenko to bundle the ball in from close range.

Jarrad Branthwaite 8

Making his first appearance of the season, Everton’s breakthrough start of the previous campaign grew into the game and after appearing to be shaking off the rust early on as he almost got caught out a couple of times, he was soon back to winning headers and making well-timed interceptions.

Orel Mangala 6

Found himself fighting fires in front of his defence for prolonged periods of the first half, he was able to get more of a handle on proceedings after the break as Everton looked to get more of a foothold in the engine room where Adam Wharton had dictated proceedings.

Abdoulaye Doucoure 6

Kept plugging away and like Mangala, had a bit more joy after the break but was beaten far too easily at the back post in an aerial challenge with Maxence Lacroix that set up Crystal Palace’s goal and then should have done better when put through one-one-one by Calvert-Lewin 10 minutes from the end.

Jesper Lindstrom 5

Offered a threat with his pace and deliveries, including from corner-kicks, but it would have been nice to see him taking the game to the opposition more often and a moment shortly before the interval when he gave up possession cheaply summed up his frustrating afternoon as he was hooked at the interval.

Dwight McNeil 8

Superb second half double strike to turn this game on its head, as he provided the piece of inspiration Everton required with a spectacular equaliser from outside the area before firing his side ahead with a perfectly timed close range finish at the back post.

Iliman Ndiaye 6

Looked to be a threat whenever he ran at defenders and there is always a chance he can work a bit of magic, but on this occasion his willingness to alleviate pressure with a dribble also provided some respite.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin 6

Other than a McNeil cross that Palace took off his toes, there were few clearcut openings for Everton’s centre-forward but at full stretch he picked out Doucoure for his big chance and worked hard chasing balls into the channels. Was booked late on for denying Palace from taking a quick free kick.

Jack Harrison (on 46 for Lindstrom) 7

Unlike at Leicester City, his introduction made a positive difference and he made a purposeful contribution by providing the assist for McNeil’s second goal with a well-delivered right wing cross.

Idrissa Gueye (on 82 for McNeil)

Late introduction to shore things up in the middle.

James Garner (on 82 for Mangala)

Ditto.

Story Saved
You can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.