Sean Dyche believes his Everton side can learn to cope better with expectations but praised the team’s resilience as they grew throughout Monday’s contest en route to securing a crucial point at home to Crystal Palace. 

In a game in which both teams struggled to truly take control, Everton found themselves 1-0 down midway through the second half when Jordan Ayew smashed a stunning strike into the top corner of Jordan Pickford’s net. 

Everton rallied late on but squandered a number of glorious chances before second-half substitute Amadou Onana rose highest in the 84th minute to nod home a Dwight McNeil corner and rescue an important 1-1 draw. 

Analysing on the result, Dyche told evertontv: “First half, we were off and they were a side with a new manager sitting in the ground. They had a bit of an edge about them - they played well, I thought. We weren’t miles off it, but we were off with the ball and we didn’t look brave. We were too timid and played backwards too much. 

“I spoke to them at half-time and said, ‘Look, the expectation changes when you play these games, you can feel it in the stadium’. You have to play up to that. 

“Second half we did more. I think we can still do more, but we asked more questions of the opposition. They scored a good goal with a clean strike, but it was a much better performance in the second half. 

“We were much braver in possession, calm when the crowd wanted blood and thunder - which I like, by the way. But sometimes you have to break down a banked-in unit and we did enough to get a point in the second half - thanks to a fine delivery and finish from Amadou. 

“There were other chances where, look you can’t keep going on about xG, but facts and stats are there - we have to take responsibility. 

“But the mentality keeps improving here, that’s important and I mention it constantly because things like the substitutes have affected the game tonight, we got a good set-piece goal which is important when you can’t score from open play. 

“Equally, we have created a lot of chances from open play. So disappointed in a way because you want to win these games, but you don’t want to lose them and we gave everything to make sure we didn’t lose tonight.”

Onana’s late headed goal was Everton’s 10th Premier League strike from a corner this season, and their 14th overall set-piece goal across the campaign - only Arsenal can better them in both departments. 

“I am super proud of what the players are doing from set pieces,” admitted the Everton boss reflecting on that standout dead-ball return.  

“Getting in there, it was another great header from Amadou, I think he had another at Burnley. It was a great ball in as well, by the way. We want to score goals from open play, and there was enough on show in the second half with the chances we created to know that we will do that. 

“But if you can’t score a goal from that, then make sure you score a goal. We are a threat from set pieces and we want to continue being that. But can we add clarity from free play, because there were enough chances in the second half to score more than one goal.”