THERE WAS SOMETHING UNFAMILIAR about the appearance of David Moyes, the Everton manager, at Selhurst Park on Saturday — a smile. It had not previously been spotted this far south in 2004, and Moyes himself did not appear entirely comfortable with his new expression at first. But as the interviews wore on, he settled into it, and even tried some accompanying banter and a few jokes. Given more opportunities, he might get to enjoy the whole experience.
But will those opportunities arise? His team’s first away victory since December 13 was convincing in the end, but it would be unwise to read too much into it. Everton had been looking at two successive defeats, and every inch the relegation possibles of many pre-season predictions, until a goalkeeping clanger from Julian Speroni, of Crystal Palace, handed them an equaliser. However, as all Evertonians know, seasons and careers can turn on such moments. Howard Kendall’s team of the mid-1980s was heading nowhere until a misjudged backpass by Kevin Brock, of Oxford United, kept them in a League Cup tie, and they went on to win two league championships, the FA Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
You would not bet on anything similar happening this time, despite the promise of investment from Russian tycoons Nevertheless, Moyes was pleased with the way his players had capitalised on their good fortune. “There’s a great deal of character building amongst them,” he said. “The problem with you London boys is that you don’t see this, but I’ve been seeing it for a while. The players are doing really well, and we’re all pleased with the way things are going. There is a bit of momentum behind the scenes, and we feel as if we are driving that on.”
They seemed stuck in reverse as Palace took the lead through Mark Hudson’s header after nine minutes and looked likely to add to it. Then Speroni, who was making his home debut after joining from Dundee for £500,000, decided that his native Argentine ball skills would enable him to dribble round Kevin Campbell. He was immediately proved wrong, bringing the Everton forward down to give Mark Clattenburg an easy decision on the day he became, at 29, the youngest-ever Premiership referee.
Thomas Gravesen converted the penalty, and Everton’s confidence grew as Palace’s visibly drained away. Gravesen put them ahead in the second half with a curling shot, and he capped a fine display by providing the pass for Marcus Bent to score Everton’s third.
Advertisement
The influential Denmark midfield player has been the subject of transfer rumours, but according to Moyes it would take “big money” for him to sell a player he regards as one of the best in his position in Europe — “Hamburg made an offer (of around £2 million) that would have bought a leg, maybe” — and the new funds that may be available should now enable Everton to hang on to him. Palace had no one able to operate at that level, although Wayne Routledge teased Gary Naysmith into two bookable fouls and a red card. Andy Johnson worked hard, but underhit a good chance to make the score 2-0 and saw Alan Stubbs clear his angled shot off the line. Within seconds, Speroni had changed the course of the match, and as for the season, time will tell.
“We will learn and hopefully do better at both ends,” Iain Dowie, the Palace manager, said. With Chelsea visiting tomorrow, they had better do it quickly.