We're on a Roll

A month or so ago I had to decline a friend's invitation to some hospitality at Selhurst Park. As a Christmas present for my wife, I'd bought some tickets for a gig to a band she liked, though with the game moved to a late kick off, the proximity of getting from Selhurst Park to Tuffnell Park in time for the gig would have been challenging, so I was settling for watching the match in a pub somewhere before going to the gig.

As it turned out, Katja didn't really fancy the gig anyway, getting barged around in a moshpit was more appealing in our twenties, and an invite to a baby shower with all her girlie mates was much more appealing. So a refunded train ticket, gig ticket resale and a message or two to my friend later, I was able to attend the hospitality after all.

I'd booked quite an early train down and met up with my sister around London Bridge for some lunch and then a couple of beers at The Rake. It was great to see a few London Toffees in there.

I then took the relatively short hop to Norwood Junction and met up with the other guys attending hospitality at The Clifton Arms, a great bunch of guys, a mix of Crystal Palace fans and Evertonians, and great to see opposing supporters gelling and getting along so well.

Paul, who had arranged the hospitality box was a real gentleman and made sure you were well looked after throughout. Vince Hilaire, an ex-Crystal Palace player in the 1980s came in and told a story about getting flattened by Pat Van Den Hauwe, not the first or last player to tell that tale one suspects.

We had plenty of time until kick off and the food, drink and conversation flowed. A nice fella came over and shook everyone's hand introducing himself as "Danny". I was soon informed that he was actually Danny Granville, a handy left back in the 90s who played for Chelsea, Leeds United and of course Crystal Palace amongst others. He was telling me about playing against Duncan Ferguson back in the day and how tough he was to play against. I also enjoyed a couple of bottles of Palace Ale, a nice craft beer brewed by Neil Morrissey no less. Mind blown.

As the teams came out we slid open the doors and took our seats behind the goal, just next to the noisy Evertonians who were below us and to the left. There were plenty of noisy Evertonians in the hospitality box and the one next to us too.

It felt like quite a tense start to the game with both teams trying to feel their way into it. I fancied it to be a tough game and in truth didn't expect much out of it after our Wednesday night exploits. But the lads stuck at it well, albeit we had to absorb plenty of Crystal Palace pressure. Jefferson Lerma headed into the net from a deep corner, though luckily for us the eagle eyed linesman had deemed the ball to have gone out before it curled back in. It looked a tight call, probably the right one, but not one that would likely have been ruled out by VAR had he not have put his flag up. Anyway, we sure weren't complaining.

There were other opportunities for Crystal Palace too and Jordan Pickford had to be alert to keep out a couple of drives at goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The first half seemed to zip by. Where we were located we had no visibility of the scoreboard, and my theory is that the time moved quicker because you were less aware of it. And so I didn't realise we were after 40 minutes when the game changed in a whirlwind. Firstly our defence were all over the place as Crystal Palace found a way though though fortunately Ismaila Sarr's drive came back off the underside of the crossbar and stayed out. 

And in no time at all we were ahead. A poor throw in from Tyrick Mitchell was pounced upon by Charly Alcaraz. He took the ball forward a few yards before playing a precise ball through to Beto. One thing we've learnt quickly about our Portuguese striker is that he backs himself in a one on one situation, and he put the ball away again with aplomb, lifting it nicely into the net past the onrushing Dean Henderson. And just like that, we were inside with a cold beer at the break, everyone wondering - exactly how were Everton ahead?

Half time wizzed by and we were just finishing our drinks and getting ready to head back out when we heard a big cheer from the supporters. We quickly looked onto the screen and saw the Crystal Palace goal, a very preventable one from our perspective, before another long VAR wait. Though unlike Wednesday night, we came out the wrong side of this one and Crystal Palace were immediately level. 

The hosts really started the half with intensity though their goal seemed to give Everton the kick up the backside they needed and from thereforth I felt we really upped our game and we began to create openings with Jasper Lindstrøm and Beto both forcing saves from Dean Henderson, Jesper probably should have scored I thought.

It mattered not however when with 10 minutes left on the clock Charly Alcaraz opened his Everton account with a tidy finish whence the ball fell loose to him after Beto's attempt was saved by Henderson. When we scored in the first half, aware of trying to be respectful towards the Crystal Palace supporters in the box and frankly a bit embarrassed by how underserved it was at the time, I kept my council and celebrated meekly. This time I was much more animated however and was up on my feet along with Leslie next to me as Charly and the team celebrated in front of the jubilant Evertonians. 

Crystal Palace couldn't make any cut through in the closing minutes and it felt like we got through to the end with relative comfort. It was nice to watch the away fans going wild at full time from a vantage point, they certainly deserved it after backing the Toffees passionately throughout.

On balance perhaps a draw would have been fair but isn't it great to come away with a fabulous win? In fairness to the players, once Crystal Palace levelled, they really rolled their sleeves up and pressed to get ahead again, and we can't say they would always have done that previously, albeit we did it in similar fashion here last season.

What a month or so it has been since David Moyes returned. His points return has been nothing short of amazing and beyond the realms of expectation of even the most optimistic of Evertonians, and we left Selhurst Park ahead of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. It's incredible really.

Great to be looking up and not down, and long may it continue.

Man of the match: Beto

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