EPL: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

Leighton Baines scores for Everton

Leighton Baines and Oumar Niasse cancelled out goals from James McArthur and Wilfried Zaha as Everton drew 2-2 at Crystal Palace.

It is now three home games unbeaten for Roy Hodgson’s Palace, but they will be left to rue a number of missed opportunities to take all three points at Selhurst Park.

For Everton it was a fourth point earned from four games under interim manager David Unsworth, but does little to ease their worries at the wrong end of the table.

The Toffees had not conceded a goal in their previous four visits to Selhurst Park but were picking the ball out of the net after less than a minute.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot from inside the area was parried away by Jordan Pickford but McArthur was on hand to tuck home the rebound. It was the perfect start for the Eagles but their lead lasted less than five minutes.

Niasse went down under a challenge from Scott Dann in the area and referee Anthony Taylor showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

The home fans were furious at what they perceived to be soft spot-kick, but Baines did not care as he sent Julian Speroni the wrong way to haul the Toffees level.

The hard-working Niasse then created an opportunity for himself when he waltzed his way past Yohan Cabaye and Joel Ward, but his low shot was well saved by Speroni.

Palace began to grow back into the game as the half wore on and deservedly went back in front on 35 minutes.

Andros Townsend found Ward on the right-hand side and his teasing cross was stabbed beyond Pickford by Zaha.

Everton were looking rudderless at this stage, but were gifted an equaliser right on half-time.

Speroni played a poor pass out to Dann who was immediately robbed by Idrissa Gueye, with Gyfli Sigurdsson then playing it to Niasse who drilled the ball low into the corner.

Unsworth made two changes at the break, bringing on Tom Davies and Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Morgan Schneiderlin and Ademola Lookman.

Calvert-Lewin nearly scored with virtually his first touch, but his shot from Sigurdsson’s pass was well stopped by Speroni.

The home crowd were screaming for a red card when Niasse – who had already been booked – collided with Cabaye but referee Taylor decided to keep his cards in his pocket.

Palace began to take a firm grip on the game as the half wore on, with Everton offering little as an attacking threat.

Hodgson made an attacking substitution with 15 minutes left, replacing McArthur with Christian Benteke who was making his comeback after two months out with a knee injury.

Benteke immediately had a glorious chance to win the game after Zaha had robbed Michael Keane, but the Belgium striker scuffed his effort and the ball went wide.

Everton nearly stole all three points in the final minute when Jonjoe Kenny’s cross found substitute Sandro Ramirez, but the Spaniard headed over. Back at the other end and Benteke had the final chance of the game, but his fizzing effort from the edge of the box was punched away by Pickford.

Crystal Palace stay bottom and are now five points from safety despite the draw.

Everton fall one place to 12th and are just three points above the drop zone, with attention now turning to their continued hunt for a new permanent manager.