Everton were held to a goalless stalemate by Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, in what could prove to be a pivotal point.
Sean Dyche insisted after the final whistle that he is not 'bothered about the table' as it stands, but the Toffees have now dropped into the bottom three and have just six games remaining to once again stave off relegation to the Championship.
With Leicester, Bournemouth and Wolves just three of Everton's games to come, many supporters feel nine points across those selections games would go a long way to ensuring the club's survival once more this campaign.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin returned to feature in what will serve as a significant boost for the Toffees and was watched on by many members of the press. Scroll down to see how they judged Everton's most recent domestic outing...
'Triumph of sorts for Everton in bore draw'
John Aizlewood, Telegraph
Everton created little threat beyond Alex Iwobi’s first-half piledriver which Sam Johnstone saved smartly but survived despite Mason Holgate, making a disastrous first Premier League start since August by foolishly picking up a second yellow card, causing his team to defend doughtily.
And defend roughly they did, with Palace restricted to just one serious effort themselves, a long-range Eberechi Eze curler, which Jordan Pickford pawed aside. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose only goal of the season came in the reverse fixture, shot wide when Iwobi presented him with a chance and looked far from up to speed.
Yet, in other ways, this was a very different Everton. Defenders James Tarkowski and Michael Keane were imperious while Palace’s creative font, Eze, was stymied by Idrissa Gana Gueye and James Garner. Despite conceding a flurry of corners after losing Holgate, Everton hung on with the ease they had shown for the previous 80 and had a triumph of sorts.
'Calvert-Lewin left isolated for majority'
Matthew Howarth, BBC Sport
Everton have now gone five games without victory and with a tricky run of fixtures on the horizon, the Toffees' place in the top flight is under serious threat.
They were boosted by the return of Calvert-Lewin, who made his first appearance in more than two months after recovering from a hamstring injury, but the striker was left isolated for the majority of the first half.
Dyche's team were poor in possession to begin with but improved as the first half wore on, Iwobi forcing a fine save out of Johnstone with a sweetly struck volley from around 25 yards. Calvert-Lewin did go close to firing Everton ahead in the second half, but his left-footed shot from Iwobi's pass rolled agonisingly wide of Johnstone's left-hand post.
'A fulcrum in attack'
Ed Aarons, The Guardian
As Premier League spectacles go, Gareth Southgate could easily have picked a more entertaining way to spend his Saturday afternoon. With the England manager back on his old stamping ground to watch his former club attempt to record a fourth successive victory since his predecessor’s return, a stubborn defensive performance from 10-man Everton was enough to earn Sean Dyche’s side a point that could prove to be extremely valuable.
While it was not enough to stop them from dropping into the bottom three after Leicester’s win over Wolves, even more heartening for Dyche after his side survived Mason Holgate’s red card 10 minutes from time will have been the sight of Dominic Calvert-Lewin lasting until the 90th minute before being substituted. The England striker could not take a golden opportunity to secure only Everton’s second away win of the campaign but at least provided a fulcrum in attack that has been sorely missing all season.
'Split second shows way forward for Everton'
Joe Thomas, Liverpool ECHO
Sixty minutes into this game Everton were given a glimpse of their best route to Premier League survival.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin did not win the long ball that was sent in his direction. Nor did he finish the chance that followed. But in a cluster of seconds the instinct, quality and presence so sorely missing from this Everton side for so much of this year was on show.
The 26-year-old had his back to goal but an extraordinary first touch saw him turn his man and set up the chance he fired just wide. Those opportunities will need to be converted over the coming weeks. But in a split second everything Everton have been missing during his absence was displayed in sharp focus.
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