Idrissa Gana Gueye grabbed a dramatic 86th-minute winner as gutsy Everton edged a five-goal thriller at Crystal Palace to seal their third win in London this season.
The Blues took early leads in each half - first through Vitalli Mykolenko before another goal on the road for Abdoulaye Doucoure - only for the hosts to level both times through Eberechi Eze’s penalty and Odsonne Edouard.
But, having come on at the start of the second half for Amadou Onana, Gana ensured it was another happy trip to the capital for Sean Dyche’s men, collecting Doucoure’s pass and finishing to bag his first goal since returning to the Blues last summer.
The victory was Everton’s sixth in their past nine matches, underlining the progress being made under Dyche and huge improvement in the team’s fortunes away from home.
Onana was the only change to Everton’s side from the previous weekend’s 1-1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, the Belgium midfielder recovering from a minor calf injury to replace Gana in midfield.
Fast starts have become a welcome trademark for the Blues under Dyche and the knack continued with a dream opening in south London.
Having bagged his second goal for the Club with seven minutes on the clock in the draw with Brighton seven days earlier, Mykolenko was even quicker to hit the back of the net this time around.
A minute had just ticked over when Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Doucoure combined on the edge of the area, resulting in Jack Harrison dinking over a pinpoint cross for Mykolenko – on his 50th Premier League start - to nod home from six yards out.
But having done so well to seize control, Everton were pegged back two minutes later in a frantic opening to the contest.
James Tarkowski had already been called on to thwart Edouard with a lunging tackle before Eze, back in the Eagles side for the first time since September after injury, jinked his way into the area and was clipped down by the leg of Jarrad Branthwaite. England international Eze picked himself up to net from the penalty spot, and matters were level again.
Everton had to withstand plenty of Palace pressure for the next 10 minutes, Tarkowski doing well to head clear under pressure from Edouard.
The Blues were next to threaten on goal with 17 minutes gone, though, McNeil collecting possession from 20 yards out and hitting a crisp volley into the arms of Sam Johnstone, before Calvert-Lewin nearly got on the end of a fine Ashley Young centre, Joel Ward turning the ball behind for a corner.
Everton hearts were in mouths on 24 minutes as the dangerous Eze worked his way into the penalty area from the right flank and went down again under a challenge from Branthwaite. This time, however, the forward was shown a yellow card by referee Sam Barrott for diving which, after a VAR check, was confirmed.
Five of the Blues’ past 10 Premier League encounters at Palace have finished goalless but it was a different story here as both teams traded blows, James Garner showing lovely footwork on the edge of the Eagles area before hitting an effort the wrong side of the left-hand post.
Just before five minutes of added time were shown, Garner looked to be pulled down by Eze on the edge of the area as he tried to gobble up a clearance. To the dismay of the midfielder and Dyche on the touchline, though, referee Barrott waved play on.
Everton were forced into a change for the start of the second half, Gana replacing Onana in midfield.
It did little to rattle the Blues, however, as they raced out of the traps once again to retake the lead on 49 minutes.
Gana guided a headed Palace clearance from a corner to Mykolenko on the left edge of the area. The Ukrainian - much like his maiden Blues goal at Leicester City in May 2021 – unleashed a sweet left-foot volley that kissed the post and, to the delight of Evertonians, fell back into the path of Doucoure to tap into an empty net.
Branthwaite, so impressive this season, highlighted what a talent he is with a perfectly-timed challenge inside the box to sweep the ball from Edouard’s feet after the striker had been played in by Lerma.
The Eagles duo combined again on 66 minutes, Edouard the creator this time as the striker cut a pass across goal and Lerma drilled wide when well placed.
The hosts introduced another dangerous attacker in Michael Olise moments later, with the winger taking no time to get involved with a 20-yard effort that narrowly flew over the bar.
And Palace levelled for the second time in the contest with 16 minutes remaining. When a high ball was looped into the box, Tarkowski opted to leave it for Pickford but, with the Everton keeper rooted to his line, Edouard was allowed to get in between the two and score from close range.
Once again, the equaliser put the home team back in the ascendency and the Blues had to be resolute to keep them at bay from a succession of corners.
But moments after Beto – on a substitute for Calvert-Lewin – had gone close, Everton were back in the lead for a third time with four minutes remaining.
Doucoure gathered possession 25 yards out, moved towards goal and slid a precision through ball into the box for Gana to take a touch and fire past Johnstone.
Eight minutes of added time were signalled to set up an anxious finish as Dyche’s men tried to hold on to their lead this time.
They nearly put the game out of sight when Beto broke free down the right byline and flashed his low finish just beyond the far post.
But it didn’t matter in the end as Everton held on for a third victory in London this season, and a sixth win in their past nine matches.
