Dominic Calvert-Lewin flops with 3/10 – Everton players ratings v Crystal Palace
Everton climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Monday 19 February.
The Toffees were incredibly poor for the majority of the showdown as they repeatedly missed many excellent chances before Jordan Ayew broke the deadlock with a long-range strike midway through the second half.
However, Amadou Onana’s late header ensured that Sean Dyche’s side climbed out of the drop zone and shared the points with the Eagles to slightly ease the relegation fears surrounding Goodison Park.
Here Goodison News has rated the players out of 10;
Jordan Pickford – 6
The Everton stopper had very little to do in the first half but dealt with the limited opportunities Palace had well. Made a couple of excellent saves in the second period, including the stop to deny Tyrick Mitchell. Could do little to stop Ayew’s winner but, Pickford seems to have really kicked on this season and could be crucial in the coming months.
Ben Godfrey – 5
Has become a regular for Dyche at right-back but did little to show why he should start week in and week out at Goodison Park barring a few powerful runs from deep that helped the Toffees climb up the field. He needs to be doing more if he is starting week in and week out on Merseyside.
James Tarkowski – 7
Everton’s skipper on the night and yet another impressive defensive display. Tarkowski once again threw himself in front of every effort that Palace had on goal and made several defensive interventions as he has done all season. Should have headed home in the second half but wasn’t able to turn in his powerful effort. On a bleak evening, the 31-year-old was probably the best of a poor bunch.
Jarrad Branthwaite – 6
The 21-year-old has been impressive so far this season but maybe should have done more to stop Jean Phillippe-Mateta from holding the ball up as the Frenchman was able to shrug off Branthwaite’s pressure with relative ease and he could have been quicker to slow down Ayew as he took aim to strike past Pickford from the edge of the box.
Vitalii Mykolenko – 6
The Ukraine international carried a threat going forward with a couple of wicked balls into the penalty area. Was unfortunate to not score with an excellent volley in the second half that was well blocked by the Palace defence.
Idrissa Gueye – 5
Since he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegalese international has been in fine form and that was once again the case at Goodison Park on Monday. No players won more tackles than the 34-year-old and the Toffees lost a little bit of bite when he left the field for Amadou Onana midway through the second half.
James Garner – 5
The 22-year-old worked hard in the middle of the park and had a couple of excellent chances to add to his goal tally this season. Was unable to keep a number of efforts down as he repeatedly skied over Sam Johnstone’s crossbar with wasteful strikes in an overall sloppy display which would have frustrated supporters.
Ashley Young – 4
Preferred on the right wing to Jack Harrison but did very little to justify his selection in a fairly anonymous first half at Goodison. Did make a number of important defensive interventions but struggled to have a big impact in the final third. Was substituted just after the hour mark for Jack Harrison in a change that should have probably come sooner.
Abdoulaye Doucoure massively off the pace for Everton
Abdoulaye Doucoure – 4
Back in the starting XI and while the midfielder was lively, his performance was more than a little bit rusty and showed that he could take a little while to get back up to speed. The Mali midfielder simply had to score when the ball bounced out to him in the second half but made a clear-cut chance far too easy to save.
Dwight McNeil – 8
The winger was the Toffees creator in chief as he repeatedly caused chaos with a number of excellent balls into the penalty area, including the magnificent corner that led to Onana’s equaliser. Although the Englishman was far from his best, he can turn the game on its head with one magnificent ball as he did on Monday night.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin – 3
As has become the trend in recent weeks, the Everton striker had plenty of opportunities to end his goal drought but never looked like scoring. Unlike the defeat to Manchester City, Calvert-Lewin had plenty of opportunities in front of goal but lacked the clinical edge that strikers in the Premier League have to be consistent in the top flight but did all he could when he was once again isolated.
Substitutes
Amadou Onana – 7
A big header to make amends after he was too slow to get out to Ayew for his goal.
Jack Harrison – 6
Beto – 6
In other Everton news, Phil Jagielka has been left baffled by Manchester City’s FFP development amid the Toffees’ charges
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