Crystal Palace - 1 (Hudson 9.)
Everton - 3 (Gravesen 19. 61. Bent 82.)

Palace entertained Everton for their first home fixture of the new season, but the passage of play merely highlighted the gulf between the divisions, and it appears Palace will have to lift their game very quickly if we hope to be in this League come this time next year. That said, it was a reasonable showing by Palace, who were missing Sandor Torghelle and Michael Hughes from the starting line-up, though Michael did get on the bench, and we can all look forward to a full strength team taking on the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal in the not too distant future.

The first action in this match saw Everton's Kevin Kilbane send a header goalwards; his effort just passing wide of the upright, and shortly after Joonas Kolkka was caught offside. A foul by Kevin Campbell on skipper Tony Popovic saw the free kick taken by Julian Speroni, and the game settled down to fairly end-to-end stuff, neither side gaining the advantage.

Suddenly everything changed for the better though, as Andy Johnson and Wayne Routledge combined well before AJ got in a cross that was met first time by Mark Hudson, and he coolly headed the ball past Nigel Martyn in the visitors goal. More niggling fouls followed before Marcus Bent tried a shot, which fortunately went over the bar, and then AJ tried another shot that was cleared by Alan Stubbs, though only for a corner.

Joonas fired the ball in from the left, but Martyn came out well to effect the save before any of the attacking Palace players could get a touch to it. Shortly after though Julian was penalised for a foul on Campbell, and though a penalty was awarded many of the Palace faithful held their collective breath, as they feared he may well have been sent off. This did not happen, but Thomas Gravesen duly converted the spot kick, and the game was back level once more.

An attempt by Leon Osman saw Julian react well, catching the ball as it flew towards the Palace goal, and then a corner to Everton was well cleared by Aki Riihilahti. Martyn easily dealt with a shot fired in by Wayne, whilst at the other end Osman tried again, his shot flying over the top of the bar. A foul by Joseph Yobo on Dougie Freedman saw Danny Granville send in a cross that was plucked out of the air by the visiting keeper, and Osman tried once more at our end, Julian again responding well to the danger.

AJ sent in an effort that Martyn again cleared before Gary Naysmith was booked for a foul on Wayne, the resulting free kick being played by Emmerson Boyce, his cross finding Dougie, the shot once again being saved by Martyn. Tony cleared a corner to Everton, and at the other end AJ saw his attempt on goal blocked by Stubbs. A foul by Aki on Osman saw the free kick sent over the top of the bar by Gravesen, and shortly after a corner to our visitors was well cleared by Fitz Hall.

Emmerson was the next, and last, name to enter the referee's book, though there was another booking later, just not a new name, his name being taken for unsporting behaviour during a foul on Kilbane. The free kick made no progress though, and the next action saw Wayne send in a cross that was tidily dealt with by Yobo. A series of fouls ensued, though in-between Joonas did get a shot on goal, the defence once again clearing the chance, and shortly after a Palace corner saw Dougie try a shot that went just over the top of the bar.

Lee Carsley conceded a free kick for a foul on Wayne, but he was on hand to make amends, clearing the chance as the ball came back into the Everton area. Gravesen cleared the next chance to Palace, and Bent tried a shot that sailed well over the bar. Little further action brought the half to a close, and though Iain Dowie would have been pleased with the early goal, the rush of blood conceding the penalty would, presumably, have been concerning him. The game was on for the taking though, and there was everything to play for in the following 45 minutes.

AJ was caught offside before Emmerson tried a cross into the area that was cleared by Stubbs, though shortly after AJ got a header on target that was just kept out by Martyn. Bent had a shot that was well saved by Julian, and Everton decided to make the first change of the match, with Duncan Ferguson coming on to replace Campbell. Osman tried a shot that was caught by Julian, and at the other end of the park Wayne got in a cross that was cleared by Naysmith.

Danny cleared the next ball that came into our area, though he was forced to concede a corner, the set piece being well defended by Dougie, back helping out the defence, as he is often found to be. Mark cleared another corner before Wayne tried a shot that went just wide of the upright, and Naysmith and Kilbane had shots that missed the target, though the deadlock was about to be broken.

Gravesen managed to get clear of the defence, and from fairly well out he sent in a shot that flew into the back of the net, and suddenly we were behind for the first time in the game. Fitz tried a shot that went over the top of the bar, and shortly after Ferguson was caught offside. Emmerson got on the end of a free kick fired in by Wayne, but his header went over the top once more, and as Bent tried a shot that was blocked by Mark it was Naysmith who once again fouled Wayne, and his second yellow card became an automatic red, and he was off for an early bath.

Palace sent Shaun Derry into the fray, replacing Aki, and Everton replaced Osman with Alessandro Pistone. In an attempt to get back on level terms Emmerson was replaced with new signing Ivan Kaviedes, though despite having three attackers against a ten man side it was Ferguson who sent a shot goalwards, Julian just managing to hang on to the ball at the last moment. Shortly after though Bent put the game beyond doubt as Gravesen sent in a cross that he drilled home, the score was 3-1, and there was no way back for the Palace side, who will now have to regroup for another day.

Everton made their final change, taking off goal scorer Bent, and bringing on Steve Watson before a corner sent in by Wayne nearly repeated the trick of earlier in the day, as Mark got on the end of the ball, this time his attempt going just over the top of the bar. As we entered time added on Palace threw everything at the Everton defence, but there was to be no further scoring for the day, and we now all look forward to the visit of Chelsea on Tuesday night. A definite improvement will be needed in our performance if we hope to take anything out of that game.

Colin Pryce

Crystal Palace: Julian Speroni, Emmerson Boyce (Ivan Kaviedes 77), Tony Popovic, Mark Hudson, Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge, Aki Riihilahti (Shaun Derry 73), Fitz Hall, Joonas Kolkka, Andrew Johnson, Dougie Freedman.

Substitutes not used: Gabor Kiraly, Michael Hughes, Gary Borrowdale.

Everton: Nigel Martyn, Tony Hibbert, Alan Stubbs, Gary Naysmith, Lee Carsley, Leon Osman (Alessandro Pistone 75), Joseph Yobo, Thomas Gravesen, Kevin Kilbane, Kevin Campbell (Duncan Ferguson 54), Marcus Bent (Steve Watson 84).

Substitutes not used: Richard Wright, James McFadden.

Attendance: 23,666

Referee: Mr M Clattenburg