Everton and Liverpool overlooked Scott Dann as a youngster growing up in their midst – but no longer. The Crystal Palace defender scored once again on his Merseyside homecoming but, unlike last month’s late header at Anfield, he was denied the match-winner’s glory by a more natural predator. Romelu Lukaku gave Everton a deserved point and Chelsea another reminder of what they have lost with his 50th goal in 100 games for Roberto Martínez’s side.
Lukaku struck for the 14th time this season, for the seventh time in six matches and in the fifth Premier League game in succession – the first Everton player to do so – to puncture Palace’s resistance in an absorbing game at Goodison Park. Jamie Vardy’s goal streak and place at the top of the Premier League’s scorer’s chart remain in his sights. Lukaku’s overall display gave further credence to Martínez’s claim that the 22-year-old is an established elite-level player with more to come. But this was a night when the managers shared the positives as well as the points.
Alan Pardew bemoaned the officials’ refusal to award the visitors two penalties – for a shirt-pull on Mile Jedinak by Gareth Barry and Ramiro Funes Mori’s late trip of Jordon Mutch – but a hard-earned draw and sixth place in the table provided ample compensation. His 31st away point since returning to Palace in January, a tally bettered in that period only by Arsenal’s 35, was further evidence of his team’s commitment, discipline and organisation.
“I think the pull on the shirt was certainly a penalty. I went to see the linesman on my side about that one,” said the Palace manager. “The second one I think is a penalty as well. He has gone to ground, he has not won the ball and has clipped Mutch. I can’t understand how he has not seen that from 12 yards. But I’m not going to moan about the result. That was a really high quality Premier League game with tough men out there.”
Martínez was more reluctant to distribute praise, harshly describing Palace as “not good on the eye but, with their power and pace, they have the perfect combination away from home”. The sight of Everton hitting the frame of the Palace goal three times may have fuelled the manager’s resentment.
He was rightly effusive on the form of his £28m record signing, however. “Rom has been very consistent in the last 12 months, that is 27 goals in the calendar year which is quite impressive,” said Martínez. “When you look at the overall development in the last 12 months, it makes you realise what a special footballer we have here.
“We are not talking about potential now. We are talking about an established goalscorer who has a big responsibility in our team and can control the moment.” Lukaku’s goalscoring record over 100 Everton games is the best since Joe Royle’s 51 in the late 1960s.
The performances of Dann and Damien Delaney against the in-form Belgian were essential to Pardew’s game-plan. All three impressed, as did both goalkeepers and the woodwork from a Palace point of view. Lukaku struck a post with Everton’s best opening of the first half after exchanging passes with Ross Barkley and beating Wayne Hennessey in the visiting goal with a low left-foot drive from the edge of the area.
Wayne Rooney was in the director’s box, along with his son Kai, to watch his boyhood team while Manchester United prepare for a crucial Champions League test in Wolfsburg without their injured captain. He will have been familiar with the long wait for a breakthrough.
Gerard Deulofeu took a while to find his range but was central to Everton’s improvement once he did so. The home side’s threat increased gradually, Connor Wickham diverting a Barkley free-kick against his own crossbar, yet it was Palace who made the breakthrough after catching Martínez’s side on the counter-attack.
Tim Howard produced a fine stop to deny Jason Puncheon after Wickham and Yohan Cabaye combined on the break but, from Puncheon’s subsequent corner, Dann always had the run on Barry and sent a towering header beyond the American goalkeeper. “Scott is having a great season for us,” said Pardew. “I keep giving him a nod towards England. Not only does he defend well but he is a big threat from set pieces.”
Everton almost struck back immediately but, remarkably, hit the woodwork for a third time when Lukaku beat Hennessey with a dipping left-foot shot from 25 yards only for the bar to intervene. The Palace keeper had earlier made a terrific save from Tom Cleverley’s volley towards the top corner but was beaten with nine minutes remaining when Barkley released Deulofeu down the right, the Spaniard drove a cross to the back post and Lukaku, inevitably and deservedly, converted.
