LONDON :Idrissa Gueye scored four minutes from time to earn Everton a pulsating 3-2 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday and secure a fourth away win in five matches in all competitions.
Gueye scored his first league goal since 2018 when he took Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pass in the box and squeezed his shot into the corner of the net to give his team the lead for the third time in the game.
Vitaliy Mykolenko put the visitors ahead inside 52 seconds, only for Eberechi Eze to earn and slot home a penalty to level the scores at 1-1 after five minutes.
Doucoure put the visitors ahead again early in the second period, but James Tarkowski inexplicably let a high ball bounce in the penalty box and Odsonne Edouard netted from close range.
Palace stayed 12th in the table with 15 points from 12 matches and Everton moved up to 14th with 14 points.
Everton had to defend for most of the game but the green shoots of recovery under manager Sean Dyche are obvious with six wins and a draw in their last nine games.
“A fighting performance without a doubt,” Dyche said. “I think we can play better than that but the fight, the determination and the willingness and mentality to win games is improving all the time.”
Everton were ahead in the first minute when Jack Harrison’s pinpoint cross was headed in from six yards by Mykolenko, as the left back made it two goals in as many games.
They have scored more goals in the opening minute of a Premier League game than any other side in the competition’s history with 13.
Palace were level shortly afterwards when the excellent Eze burst into the box and was brought down by Jarrad Branthwaite. The Palace attacker converted the spot-kick to celebrate his new three-and-a-half contract announced on Friday.
Everton were back in front four minutes into the second period as Mykolenko’s volley from the edge of the box came back off the post and Doucoure hit the rebound into an empty net.
Palace had all the possession after that as Eze, Jefferson Lerma and Michael Olise, in his first appearance of the season, all went close.
The home side were level 16 minutes from the end when Tarkowski made the error for Edouard to score, but Gueye had the final say with his rare strike.
“We’re finding ways to win, that’s a massive factor,” Dyche said. “We’re growing here. It’s only beginnings, but we are changing the Everton story (from that of relegation).
“It can’t guarantee you wins, but it gives us a much better chance if you’ve got the mentality that we’ve been showing at the moment.”