This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/16/everton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Crystal Palace's Cameron Jerome seals win to deny Everton fourth place Crystal Palace's Cameron Jerome seals win to deny Everton fourth place
(about 1 hour later)
A victory created in south-east London, cherished in north London. Crystal Palace shattered Everton's seven-game winning streak, their run of nine successive victories at Goodison Park and quite possibly their Champions League aspirations with a model away performance effectively to secure their Premier League status. Tony Pulis's rescue act is complete. Arsène Wenger can sense a reprieve of his own. A victory created in south London, cherished in north London. Crystal Palace shattered Everton's seven-game winning streak, their run of nine straight victories at Goodison Park and possibly their Champions League hopes with a clinical away performance to ensure Premier League football stays at Selhurst Park next season. Tony Pulis's act of escapology is complete. Arsène Wenger can sense a reprieve of his own.
Everton would have reclaimed fourth place from Arsenal with just a point but Champions League qualification is out of their hands after Palace recorded a fourth successive victory and arguably their finest of the campaign at Goodison. Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie were inspired down the visiting flanks, Scott Dann and Damien Delaney rocks in defence, and Puncheon, Dann and Cameron Jerome scored the goals that took Palace to the 40-point mark. Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, looked on. He will know there are no guarantees when his league leaders head to Selhurst Park for their penultimate game of the season. Arsenal remain in fourth place and, crucially, are back in control of their Champions League destiny after Everton "played with a bit of fear" according to their manager, Roberto Martínez, and were duly picked off. The visiting wingers, Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie, inspired Palace to a fourth successive league victory and the magical 40-point barrier. How elusive that must have seemed to Pulis when he took his seat before the Hull City game on 23 November with Palace languishing on four points from 11 games. How thankful Palace must be to Sir Alex Ferguson and Peter Coates, the Stoke City chairman, for convincing Pulis to bury his doubts and accept the job.
Roberto Martínez had described Palace as the "best defensive set-up in the league" since Pulis replaced Ian Holloway and Everton's starting XI reflected their manager's concern, with the strength and solidity of James McCarthy sacrificed for even greater flair than usual. The deployment of Ross Barkley behind a four-man attack led by Romelu Lukaku, however, struggled to find a way through two solid banks of four and the visitors showed resilience was not their only forte when they took the lead midway through the first half. Anxiety consumed Goodison Park when Puncheon scored his fourth goal in three games and was transmitted into Everton's performance. Puncheon, Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome scored the goals that continued Palace's stirring recovery and halted Everton's momentum. Brendan Rodgers looked on and will know there are no guarantees when Liverpool head to Selhurst Park for the penultimate game of their title-chasing season.
The 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was marked before kick-off by a minute's applause from both sets of supporters and some nice touches from Liverpool's local rivals. Children held a row of entwined blue and red scarves the length of the pitch, reviving memories of a similar show of unity at Goodison before Liverpool's first competitive fixture after the tragedy in 1989. Martínez, who delivered an emotive speech at the memorial service at Anfield on Tuesday, turned to face Margaret Aspinall and other invited members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group in the Goodison directors' box during the applause. The Everton manager described Palace as the "best defensive set-up in the league" before kick-off and attempted to break through with even greater flair than usual. James McCarthy was not risked from the start due to a muscle problem but in his absence, and with Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines afforded little protection at full-back, the visitors' resilience was only part of his problem. Palace had the finishing touch too and Everton were consumed by anxiety when Puncheon scored his fourth goal in three games midway through the first half.
His side quickly settled into a confident passing rhythm with the marauding runs and accuracy of John Stones out of central defence a prominent feature. Gareth Barry headed over from an early Aiden McGeady corner while Gerard Deulofeu's individual duel with the Palace left-back Joel Ward offered promise – but little end product – for the home side. The 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster was marked by a minute's applause and some nice touches from Liverpool's local rivals. Children held a row of entwined blue and red scarves the length of the pitch, reviving memories of a similar show of unity at Goodison before Liverpool's first competitive fixture after the tragedy in 1989. Martínez, who delivered an emotive speech at the memorial service at Anfield, turned to face Margaret Aspinall and other invited members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group in the Goodison directors' box during the applause.
Palace were content to absorb Everton pressure and strike on the counter, and did so to devastating effect when the impressive Bolasie burst past Leighton Baines inside the area. His cross deflected to Marouane Chamakh on the penalty spot and he teed up Puncheon for a confident low finish into the bottom corner of Tim Howard's goal. It could have been much worse for Everton shortly afterwards when Bolasie again provided an unexpected threat. Controlling a high ball on his chest, the midfielder cut inside Seamus Coleman and struck a venomous shot against the base of the post from 25 yards. Cameron Jerome steered an awkward rebound wide. Palace were content to absorb Everton pressure and strike on the counter, and did so to devastating effect when the impressive Bolasie burst past Baines inside the area. His cross deflected to Marouane Chamakh who teed up Puncheon for a confident finish into the bottom corner of Tim Howard's goal. It could have been worse for Everton when Bolasie's shot hit the base of the post from 25 yards. Jerome steered an awkward rebound wide.
All Everton had to show for dominant first half possession was half-chances for Kevin Mirallas and Lukaku, the latter forcing a fine save from Julián Speroni at his near post, and their night did deteriorate when Palace scored a second moments after the restart. All Everton had to show for dominant first-half possession were half-chances for Kevin Mirallas and Romelu Lukaku, the latter forcing a fine save from Julián Speroni, and their night did deteriorate when Palace scored a second moments after the restart. Only a fine save from Howard prevented Joe Ledley scoring from 12 yards but, from the resulting corner by Bolasie, there was no reprieve as Dann broke free of John Stones and steered a textbook header into the roof of the net. Martínez complained afterwards that Stones had been unfairly blocked as he tracked the Palace defender. To no avail.
Martínez's patience with Deulofeu lasted until the interval but his replacement, the in-form Steven Naismith, barely had time to break into a run before he was helping to chase a two-goal deficit. Only a commanding save from Howard prevented Joe Ledley scoring from 12 yards but, from the resulting corner by the influential Bolasie, there was no reprieve for Everton as Scott Dann escaped the attention of Stones and steered a textbook header into the roof of the net. Goodison could see its Champions League dream disappearing over the horizon of the Emirates and Martínez acted, introducing McCarthy and Leon Osman. The impact was immediate on Everton's balance, control and composure. Within two minutes Ross Barkley found Mirallas wide on the right. His deep, searching cross was headed back across goal by Baines and the substitute Steven Naismith prodded in his third goal in four matches.
Goodison could see its Champions League dream disappearing over the horizon of the Emirates and Martínez acted, introducing McCarthy and Leon Osman. The impact was immediate on Everton's balance, control and composure. Within two minutes Barkley sprayed the ball out to Mirallas wide on the right. His deep, searching cross was headed back across goal by Baines of all people and there was Naismith to prod home his third goal in four matches from a yard out. Mirallas volleyed over from a Baines cross and Speroni saved superbly from Osman as Everton stirred. But they were punctured by Puncheon yet again when the midfielder cut across the Everton defence and picked out Jerome inside the area. The striker made himself a yard of space and swept an emphatic finish into the far corner.
Mirallas volleyed over from a Baines cross and Speroni saved superbly from Osman as Everton stirred. But they were punctured by Puncheon yet again with 17 minutes remaining when the on-loan Southampton midfielder cut across the Everton defence and picked out Jerome inside the area. The striker made himself a yard of space and swept an emphatic finish into the far corner. Mirallas converted Barkley's deflected pass in the 86th minute but, despite six minutes of added time, the draw was beyond Everton. Advantage Arsenal. Mirallas converted Barkley's deflected pass in the 86th minute but, despite six minutes of added time, the draw was beyond Everton. Advantage Arsenal.