Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton: Goalless draw continues Roy Hodgson’s unbeaten return as Palace boss

Ten-man Everton hung on grimly to secure a vital point and held back a late charge from their hosts after Mason Holgate was sent off after 80 minutes.

A largely dour encounter was brightened at death when the full-back was sent off for a second bookable offense that led to a late blowout from the home side that failed to produce a winner.

Everton welcomed Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who lasted for 90 minutes, embodying a determined effort that rarely gets the pulse racing and doesn’t vastly improve the situation they find themselves in.

For Palace, it pushed them to 37 points and it looks like Roy Hodgson’s mission is almost done to keep them up.

Calvert-Lewin was given a first start since facing Arsenal in early February, Dyche’s first game in charge. His availability came as a pre-match morale booster for the visitors, who put the striker to the test mid-week by giving him an hour in a friendly against Chester.

Everton also brought in Holgate for Ben Godfrey as they attempted to break their streak of thirteen games without a win in all competitions.

Palace, who were hoping to win for a fourth consecutive time for the first time since June 2020, were happy to remain with an unchanged eleven charged with continuing the rise achieved under Roy Hodgson.

‘Fight like your fans’ hailed a banner in the away section, as Calvert-Lewin – watched by Gareth Southgate from the stands – found himself a lone frontman with Alex Iwobi in a free role behind him.

The recovered striker’s first significant touch came in the eighth minute when Iwobi found him in the penalty area, but the header wasn’t enough to put Sam Johnstone in trouble.

Most of the action came on the other side, with the home side’s crosses from the left causing problems and Ayew going ahead as the Everton defense began to crack.

On the other hand, Vitali Mykolenko also had problems with Michael Olise, whom he had to shake off the ball before a shout for a penalty was rejected.

As Everton scrambled around, Palace played with a free-flowing confidence of a team that secured itself, though there were few clear chances to show for it.

Everton’s first opening came on the half-hour mark when Iwobi’s volley from the edge of the box flew through a string of bodies and set up a fine diving save from Johnstone. The midfielder was normally involved in the best things coming out of the visiting team, and that ushered in an enhanced spell for the visitors, who went into the break feeling they had weathered the initial storm.

Calvert-Lewin offered a physical presence – clattered against Joachim Andersen several times – and a focal point for balls in the penalty area, but not much specific threat.

On 55 minutes, the recently productive Eberichi Eze Pickford chipped and the ball rolled into the net after being put through by Marc Guehi, but it was clearly offside.

Five minutes later, the Everton striker was back at it as he spun beautifully on Iwobi’s through ball on his left foot, then slid it past the post from twelve yards out.

With fifteen minutes to go, Pickford had to fend off Eze’s sideways effort, but the home side struggled to replicate the buzz of their first fifteen minutes.

Their hopes of snatching victory would be bolstered when the struggling Holgate was dismissed on 80 minutes for his second yellow card offense when he headbutted Jordan Ayew after the striker zipped past him down the left flank.

That put all the momentum in Palace’s favor and soon Van Dyche’s men had to throw bodies into the penalty area to save themselves as Palace forced a series of corners.

In the end, they were able to get through the storm of the final minutes to come away by a point from a largely forgettable encounter.