Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace
by Gene Sylvester
at Bramley-Moore Dock 

A SUN-KISSED Bramley-Moore Dock welcomed the return of the Premier League with a result that will once again have Evertonians dreaming of what the season could bring for the blue side of Merseyside.

The Toffees won their first season opener in five years courtesy of goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry, dishing out a competitive debut defeat to new Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage, in what turned out to be a relatively comfortable 2-0 win for the home side.

Everton manager David Moyes highlighted in his pre-match press conference earlier in the week that Everton’s home form needed to improve following their maiden season at their new ground, so three points and a clean sheet on the opening day was welcomed by the Scotsman.

“Our points total away from home last season was fantastic, we just need to make sure that our home form is a bit more regular and get a few more wins here, so to win today was really big for us,” beamed the Everton manager following his team’s victory.

However, it was the away side who began the match with greater promise, as a host of chances went begging for Pierre Sage’s men that they eventually came to rue, as the Frenchman was given his first taste of the Premier League following his move from Lens in the summer.

It was almost a dream start for the new Palace manager when an up-and-under ball in the second minute of the game fell kindly to Eddie Nketiah on the left-hand side of the box, but his near-post cross was fired over the bar by Jean-Philippe Mateta after the French striker had done well to lose his marker.

Nketiah then tested Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal, fresh from his World Cup exploits, when a lofted ball from Adam Wharton went over the head of James Tarkowski, finding the striker with acres of space in the box, but Pickford’s quick reactions allowed the Everton keeper to tip the Palace striker’s effort onto the post and out again.

Nketiah was the architect again in the 37th minute, when his first-time, slide-rule ball across goal was prodded against Pickford’s post by the outstretched foot of Mateta, seemingly awakening the beast, as a couple of minutes later, the home side were in front.

Everton youngster Harrison Armstrong got away from Daniel Munoz down the left in the 41st minute, with the 19-year-old finding Dewsbury-Hall with a simple pass inside.

The Toffees midfielder shifted the ball to his left before firing an arrowed shot across goal and into the far corner of Dean Henderson’s net, beating the goalkeeper’s dive.

The home side doubled their lead early in the second half when a quickly taken free-kick by Hayden Hackney out on the right was played short to Iliman Ndiaye, with the Palace defence retreating into the box to set up for the free-kick.

The Senegalese whipped a brilliant cross into the six-yard box, where Barry beat Chris Richards in the air to head the ball down into the net past a rooted Henderson to make it 2-0.

“I am a little bit frustrated, especially with the first half as we created three big chances,” stated a disappointed Sage following the final whistle.

The new Palace boss went on to say: “In the second half, we then conceded the second goal by not being concentrated with the free-kick on the side, and then they crossed and scored.”